1 . Kemira Boyd had just jumped in the shower when she heard her stepmother, Tammy Boyd, knocking on the door. Kemira's 12-day-old daughter Ryleigh was choking. Kemira tried everything, but she still couldn't breathe. Kemira knew Ryleigh needed to get to the hospital fast.
They had barely driven out of their neighborhood when a police car appeared behind them. Deputy Will Kimbro figured that the speeding driver was either too distracted to notice him or unconcerned. Kimbro soon found out it was a frightening combination of the two.
Once she'd pulled over, Kemira handed the baby to Kimbro. He put a hand on her little chest. Ryleigh's heart was barely beating. Kimbro radioed for an ambulance. At that time Ryleigh's lips were already blue.
The fact that Kimbro was there was a miracle. He had recently completed a CPR class and knew how to treat a child.
“Although I was shocked, my training kicked in, and I went to work to keep that child alive,” said Kimbro. Then he began tapping Ryleigh's chest, hoping to press her heart back into action. Thanks to the CPR class, Kimbro knew the choking child didn't have a chance if there was a blockage, and he used one finger to clear her airway. That was a magic touch. 20 seconds later, Ryleigh began to cry. “If she's crying like that, she's breathing,” said Kimbro.
But they still had five more minutes until the ambulance would arrive, and Kimbro worried that Ryleigh would choke again. He continued with delicate chest compression and clearing her airway.
After transferring Ryleigh to the ambulance, Kimbro drove away. At the hospital, Ryleigh recovered quickly thanks to a determined police officer who was in the right place at the right time.
1. Why did Kemira stop her car outside her neighborhood?| A．She wanted to ask for help. | B．She had broken traffic rules |
| C．She needed to care for the child. | D．She planned to talk with Kimbro |
| A．Nervous. | B．Frightened. | C．Calm. | D．Curious. |
| A．The CPR class. | B．The doctors' help. |
| C．Kemira's reaction. | D．Kimbro's first aid. |
| A．An encounter saved a life | B．A CPR class is important |
| C．A clever and brave mother | D．A policeman's experience |
2 . When you think of the Himalayas, you may picture tall, rocky, snow-covered peaks. But that’s not true.
The subnival (亚冰雪的) region is the zone between the treeline and the snowline. It is 5 to 5 times as large as the areas of glaciers and permanent snow, which means studying it is vital to understanding the Himalayas as a whole.
The treeline is the edge of an ecosystem where trees are able to grow, and beyond the treeline environmental conditions become too tough to allow tree growth. Meanwhile, snowlines are the boundaries on mountains that separate areas with permanent snow (where snow is present for the majority of the year) from areas with seasonal or no snow.
Researchers used satellite data from 1993 to 2018 to measure plant cover between 4,150 meters and 6,000 meters above sea level. The scientists discovered that the greatest increase in plant cover was between an altitude of 5,000 meters and 5,500 meters. Subnival plants mostly include small shrubs and grasses.
Even areas once completely occupied by glaciers now hold rocks covered with mosses, lichen, and sometimes even flowers. In addition, the snowline seems to be retreating, while the treeline is expanding. This shows that the region is becoming warmer, causing more melting of snow and allowing vegetation to move up in height.
In the past 40 years, 25% of all Himalayan ice has been lost due to global warming. Himalayan glaciers are reducing by about 0.5 meters each year. The rate of glacier melting has doubled in this decade. The melting of glaciers increases water in the region, making it wetter. Receding snow also forces the snowline to move up, providing a greater amount of area for the warm and moist conditions, which are perfect for vegetation growth.
As of now, we do not know whether vegetation will accelerate or slow down the rate of glacier melting.
1. How does the writer develop the third paragraph?| A．By explaining concepts. | B．By providing some examples. |
| C．By analyzing causes and effects. | D．By listing specific data. |
| A．Disappearing. | B．Lengthening. | C．Withdrawing. | D．Widening. |
| A．The snowline moves up. | B．Glaciers are melting faster. |
| C．The subnival area is wetter. | D．Plants grow much better. |
| A．The climate of the Himalayas is changing. | B．Icebergs in the Himalayas have disappeared. |
| C．Plants are diverse in the Himalayas. | D．Plant life spreads in the Himalayas. |
3 . If you’re not one of the 1. 9 million British holidaymakers who went on a cruise last year, don’t miss it this year! We’ve rounded up all of the best packages for you, as well as some of our top favourite deals.
US Transatlantic, £629 per —person: Sail 13 nights with stops including Boston, New York. Price is on a full-board basis and includes accommodation as well as on-board entertainment and activities.
Cuba, £400 per-person: Sail five nights on board Majesty of the Seas with stops in Havana, Cuba and Mexico. Price is on a full-board basis and includes accommodation as well as on-board entertainment and activities. Paying extra £177 per-person, you can enjoy upgrading to Ocean View based on an interior cabin（船舱）.
Portugal, Spain and Italy, £479 per-person: Sail seven nights with stops including Madeira and Malaga on a full-board basis. Price includes meals, late-night snacks, luxury en-suite(带浴室的)accommodation, all on-board activities and entertainment.
European cities, £579 per-person: Sail on board MSC Meraviglia from Barcelona to visit Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Palermo and Valetta, and make most of MSC’s all-inclusive drinks package including coffee, cocktails, wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks. Price is on a full-board basis with two people sharing a cabin.
While there are many great deals available to customers, the cruise industry often has some of its best deals months in advance. Cruise lines are looking to change the way the booking system works so the prices go up closer to the departure.
1. How much should a couple pay for Cuba with the Ocean View cabin?| A．£577. | B．£800. | C．£977. | D．£1154. |
| A．US Transatlantic. | B．Cuba. |
| C．Portugal, Spain and Italy. | D．European cities. |
| A．The booking system has improved greatly. |
| B．It’s better for customers to book a cruise ahead of time. |
| C．The cruise industry will reduce prices during holidays. |
| D．Customers can get the best bargains just before the departure. |
4 . Plastic garbage is one of the world’s biggest environmental headaches. Some plastic items like water bottles and shopping bags can last for hundreds of years after being thrown away, with all this plastic rubbish disrupting ecosystems and disturbing the habitats of wildlife.
There have been several projects to help control plastic production, but researchers may have found a natural way to get rid of the products.
Waxworms, which are confusingly classed as caterpillars(毛毛虫), are the honey bee’s worst nightmares, as they lay their eggs inside their hives(蜂巢). Amateur beekeeper Federica Bertocchini decided to use plastic bags to protect the hives, however she was dumbfounded when she discover the insects were able to eat holes into the sides of the bags.
The beekeeper’s surprising findings sparked a study. Bertocchini, from the Spanish National Research Council, teamed up with scientists from Cambridge University to perform some tests.
When the team put about one hundred waxworms into a standard UK plastic shopping bag, they began feasting. After about 12 hours they’d eaten roughly 92 milligrams of the bag.
In all, this isn’t huge amount, but it’s a lot faster than other natural ways. Last year, researchers found a specific type of bacteria( 细 菌 )could eat plastic, but at a rate of 0. 13 milligrams a day, making this is a massive jump in the search for a natural way to dispose(处理) plastic.
The team is still not 100 percent sure how the worms do what they do, but they’re heralding this as an important first step to get rid of pollution.
Luckily, while that team works out the answer, plastic manufacturers have found a way to make their products much more environmentally friendly. There are three types of environmentally friendly plastics: bioplastics(which are made from corn starch), biodegradable plastics(which break down quicker) and recycled plastic.
Hopefully with these new products, we will get closer to a society that is less harmful to the environment.
1. Why is plastic garbage a huge environmental headache?| A．Because some plastic bottles can stay on the street for many years. |
| B．Because this kind of rubbish will do great damage to the environment for years. |
| C．Because more and more plastic bags will make the environment look dull and ugly. |
| D．Because the plastic rubbish will make the wild life get worse than before. |
| A．Shocked. | B．Frightened. | C．Embarrassed. | D．Uncomfortable. |
| A．They make the plastic into honey. |
| B．They help scientist develop new plastic. |
| C．They eat the plastic in an environmentally friendly way. |
| D．They work with some plastic factories to deal with plastic faster. |
| A．The author is optimistic about the environment. |
| B．There will be more plastic products. |
| C．The waxworms will play a major role in the future. |
| D．No one is 100 percent sure what the future will be like. |
5 . Opera is an art form that celebrates the human voice. No other art form creates excitement and moves the heart in the way that opera does, especially when performed by a great singer. Opera is an important part of the Western classical music tradition. It uses music, words, and actions to bring a dramatic story to life. Opera started in Italy at the end of the 16th century and later became popular throughout Europe. Over the years, it has responded to various musicals. In recent decades, much wider audiences have been introduced to opera through modern recording technology. Some singers have become celebrities thanks to performing on radio, on TV, and in the cinema.
However, in recent years, opera has been facing serious challenges. One current challenge to opera is economic. The shortage of money raises the broader question of how much should be paid to support opera singers and other artists. Society seems to accept the large salaries paid to business managers and the multi-million-dollar contracts given to sports athletes. But what about opera singers? Somehow, people have the idea that artists can be creative only if they suffer in poverty, but this is unrealistic. If artists, including opera singers, lack the support they need, valuable talent is wasted.
Not only the shortage of money, but also the way money is managed in the opera world has led to hardships. Principal (主要的)singers are generally paid performance fees once they complete a show. They typically receive nothing during the many weeks of rehearsal (排练) before a show starts.
Another problem faced by opera is how to meet the demands of audiences who are influenced by popular entertainment. Pop singers are often judged as much on the basis of how they look as how they sound. These demands may be unrealistic and possibly harmful. Opera singers simply cannot make a sound big enough to fill a large theater or concert hall without a microphone if their body weight is too low. Emphasizing physical appearance over singing ability may cause audiences to miss out on the human voice at its best.
There are no easy solutions to opera's problems and there are many different opinions about the value of opera. However, every year many young people register for music courses with hopes and dreams of developing their talents in this special art form. The fact that opera has survived many obstacles and continues to attract the rising generation shows that it remains a respected art form full of value.
1. Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage?| A．Opera singers' life stories are dramatic. |
| B．Opera will soon appear on TV and in films |
| C．Opera fans thank celebrities for performing. |
| D．Opera develops by adapting to new conditions. |
| A．Opera singers are financially insecure. |
| B．Opera singers waste their valuable talent. |
| C．Opera singers get paid before the show. |
| D．Opera singers perform better if they are poor. |
| A．Popular culture has had a positive influence on opera. |
| B．Audiences know best how opera should be performed. |
| C．Microphones should be used to make opera more enjoyable. |
| D．Opera singers' voices should be valued more than their looks. |
| A．The Economic Challenge to Opera | B．Opera Faced with the Difficulties |
| C．Opera as Part of Popular Culture | D．The Historical Context of Opera |
6 . Airport security is there to protect you, but it may also give you a cold -or worse .
To all the places and surfaces we’ve been warned are covered with germs－the subway seat, airplane cabins, the ATM－add the airport security trays(托盘). The plastic security trays －used at airport checkpoints around the globe and touched by millions of passengers as they drop shoes, smartphones, baggage and other items into them to clear X-ray scanners－have been found to have a variety of germs in them, including the ones responsible for the common cold, according to researchers in Europe.
Scientists from the University of Nottingham in England examined frequently touched surfaces at Helsinki Airport in Finland during and after peak hours in the winter of 2016 and found rhinovirus, the source of the common cold in them. They found it on half the baggage trays, more than on any of the other surfaces they tested. It wasn't found on toilet surfaces at the airport. The findings could help improve public health strategies in the fight against the spread of infectious diseases worldwide.
The European Union has funded a research project, called PANDHUB, on preventing the spread of“high--threat ” pathogens(病原体) on public transportation, and the study by the University of Nottingham is part of that project .
"The presence of germs in the environment of an airport has not been examined previously, said Niina Ikonen, who was involved in the study.
Finavia, the company that operates Helsinki Airport, said in an email,“At Finavia airports, the hygiene(卫生) standards are applied in accordance with health officials' requirements－all surfaces are cleaned daily and all security checkpoint trays, etc., are washed regularly."
Washing your hands properly and coughing into a tissue or sleeve, especially in public places, can help minimize the risk of catching infectious diseases, said Jonathan Van-Tam, a professor at the University of Nottingham. "These simple measures can help prevent the spread of germs and are most important in crowded areas like airports that have a high volume of people traveling to and from many different parts of the world." he added.
1. What should air passengers do according to Van-Tam?| A．Avoid touching other people . | B．Spend less time at the airport . |
| C．Bring as little luggage as possible . | D．Try to reduce the effect of their coughs . |
| A．It focuses on"high-threat" pathogens . |
| B．It is the first to test for microbes on surfaces at airports. |
| C．It has found a new way to cure infectious diseases . |
| D．It has led to a research project called PANDHUB. |
| A．They explained why hygiene was important . |
| B．They felt quite doubtful about the findings. |
| C．They had recognized their mistakes . |
| D．They had done what was required. |
| A．Airport security trays had a lot of germs in them. |
| B．Wet surfaces offered good places for germs to live. |
| C．Viruses spread quicker during and after peak hours. |
| D．Airline passengers were more likely to catch a cold on planes. |
7 . We've got to do a better job of stopping global warming, a new report says.
The report, released Wednesday by the United Nations, says the world isn't doing nearly enough to control fossil fuel production to the level that's needed to stop "catastrophic" levels of global warming, pointing fingers at both developed countries and developing countries.
However, developing countries currently cannot sustain (维持) themselves, let alone grow, without relying heavily on fossil fuels. To them, fossil fuels are still the cheapest, most reliable energy resources available. India, for example, is home to one-third of the world's 1. 2 billion citizens living in poverty. That's 400 million people in one country without sufficient food or shelter. India hopes to shift to renewable energy as its economy grows, but the investment needed to meet its renewable energy goals “is over ten times the country's annual spending on agriculture and infrastructure (基础设施).” Unless something changes, developing countries like India cannot fight climate change.
Yet the weather changes and consequences of global warming, like tons of droughts and poverty are already impacting economic growth in many countries. Is there a solution?
According to a World Bank report, “poor and middle-income countries account for just over half of total carbon emissions.” And this percentage will only rise as developing countries grow. In Sub-Sabaran Africa, the number of people living in poverty increased by 98% in the thirty years, while carbon dioxide on average decreased by 17%. Given the current energy situation, if sub-Saharan Africans are to escape extreme poverty, they will have to increase their carbon use unless developed countries step in to offer clean alternatives and financial aid.
After all, global warming is, by definition, a global crisis. Reducing this threat will require global cooperation and global solutions.
1. What does the writer want to convey in paragraph three?| A．India has difficulty in feeding itself. |
| B．India has the largest number of poverty. |
| C．India cannot afford to develop clean energy. |
| D．India relies heavier on fossil fuels than USA |
| A．They'll be rid of extreme poverty. | B．They'll stop developing economy. |
| C．They'll care much for carbon emissions. | D．They'll pursue economic growth at heavy cost. |
| A．Poverty is the root of global warming. |
| B．Huge gap does exist between countries. |
| C．Developing countries cannot afford global warming. |
| D．Global warming demands global effort and solutions. |
| A．Conflicts between countries. | B．Ways of global cooperation. |
| C．Potential crises on the earth. | D．The importance of clean alternatives. |
8 . “Sunday Morning”honored the creative, inspiring and newsworthy men and women who passed away in 2020, who'd touched our lives in unforgettable ways.
Pain and sorrow - the calling cards of 2020. “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers provided us reassurance（保证） that tomorrow may be better. Although Withers left us at 81, his notes of comfort helped during a year that wasn't even a month old before grief was already setting in.
The death of 41-year-old Kobe Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others because of an air crash, astonished everyone-basketball fans or not.
“My momma always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get". COVID was certainly the box we all wished we never got. But Winston Groom, who created Forrest Gump, reminded us through that character that challenges exist, to be overcome.
Dignity for Black Americans remained an unfinished struggle in 2020. The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor-just to name a few-restarted a movement for equality and justice not seen since the 1960s.
Gender equality lost some of its superheroes, too. Helen Reddy, who was inspired to retire after “I Am Woman” became her most popular song in 1974, offered the soundtrack for the fight that she herself engaged in. But there were few champions for women as influential as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In her 27 years on the Supreme Court，she expanded rights for women as well as men. Small in stature（个子）,a giant for us all. The only thing tougher than Justice Ginsburg was the cancer that took her at age 87.
While the sun isn't out just yet, the hope is that it's just over the horizon.
1. What did Winston Groom want to tell us through Forrest Gump?| A．Forrest Gump had a box of chocolates. | B．A person's character determines his fate. |
| C．We didn't expect to get Covid-19 in 2020. | D．We are living through difficulties in our life. |
| A．Kobe Bryant. | B．Forest Gump. | C．George Floyd. | D．Ruth Bader Ginsburg. |
| A．She was a racist. | B．She died from an accident. |
| C．She was a musician. | D．She didn't retire until her death. |
9 . In recent years, the Yi Jin Jing exercise has gained great popularity among Chinese of all ages, thanks to Jin Yong’s novels and the Shaolin Temple in Central China’s Henan province, which has promoted kung fu techniques, including Yi Jin Jing, vigorously(蓬勃地) at home and abroad. There are more than 60 types of Yi Jin Jing exercises spreading in contemporary China, differing in lengths, gestures and movements. Thousands of health and fitness clubs in the country have been teaching classical techniques, Yi Jin Jing being the most favored course.
In ancient times, average people did the Yi Jin Jing exercise for health and longevity(长寿) , But kung fu masters do it in different and more difficult ways, hoping to hugely improve their physical abilities. For example,when it comes to breathing, a normal person, especially a beginner, would be advised to take a safe and comfortable approach. But kung fu masters would use an opposite deep breathing technique when doing Yi Jin Jing. They would breathe in deeply, then hold their breath while trying to lengthen certain muscles and tendons(筋), and in the end they would relax and breathe out very slowly.
It is widely believed that Zong Heng, a monk in Ming Dynasty, invented the Yi Jin Jing qigong exercise while he lived in a cave on Mt. Zining, where Zhangjiajing village is located.
In 2016,the Tiantai county people’s government in East China’s Zhejiang province officially declared Pingqiao, a mountainous town, as “Yi Jin Jing Township”, with Zhangjiajing village at its center. At least 30,000 local residents in and around the “Yi Jin Jing Township” have learned to perform the so-called Zining YiJin Jing qigong exercise. They put on massive performances for tourists. Yi Jin Jing training courses, coupled with hillside camping, sightseeing, local foods, have brought great benefit to the previously poor county.
1. What do we know from the first paragraph?| A．Yi Jin Jing is mentioned in Jin Yong’s books. |
| B．Shaolin Temple is the origin of Yi Jin Jing. |
| C．Health and fitness clubs have many kung fu masters. |
| D．Yi Jin Jing is the most popular qigong exercise. |
| A．By giving an example. |
| B．By following time order. |
| C．By listing the differences. |
| D．By analyzing cause and effect. |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
| A．Yi Jin Jing, the Most Powerful Qigong Techniques. |
| B．The Origin of Yi Jin Jing. |
| C．Learn Yi Jin Jing, Be Superman. |
| D．Try Classic Qigong Exercise: Yi Jin Jing. |
10 . My brother, Michael and I are crazy about houses. On Aug 1, 2016, I was driving through the Northern Neck of Virginia with him. We had found an abandoned Italianate farmhouse with weeds up to our waist. When admiring the property my brother rolled up the unlocked garage door. “Holy smokes!” There sat this Mercedes. Seeing the number 6.9 on its back, I immediately recognized this to be a rare and unique find.
The car’s door was unlocked and in the glovebox, I found insurance papers. It turned out that the owner was a dead country doctor.It took me a year to find his widow’s(寡妇的) address, in Richmond. Twice I made the two-hour drive just to knock on her door, striking out both times. On the third try her neighbor was outside and I was able to get the widow’s phone number.
I logged approximately 25 voice mails,and still nothing.It was, I thought, just bad luck. I called one last time and heard a voice: “Hello?” From that point on, we struck up a friendship.
In July 2018, two years after finding the car, I was ready to buy it from her. We met in the middle — somewhere around what a new Toyota might cost. Still,the night before, I called my brother and said, “I am getting cold feet.” What was I doing buying an old Mercedes? He said, “You are buying that great car. And I promise you, the friendship you will make as a result will make this car worth every penny.” And he was right.
1. Why did the author go to the Northern Neck?| A．To visit his brother. | B．To check the house. |
| C．To buy the unique car. | D．To enjoy the beautiful sights. |
| A．The author had trouble finding the car owner. |
| B．The car was the doctor’s only possession. |
| C．The widow was unwilling to sell the car. |
| D．The car was in bad conditions. |
| A．He was shocked by the price. |
| B．He was hesitating to make the decision. |
| C．He cared about money more than the car. |
| D．The weather that day was quite cold. |
| A．It was a waste of money. |
| B．It would cost a great deal. |
| C．Buying the car brought good friendship. |
| D．His brother made a good bargain buying it. |
