1 . Some Questions About Coronavirus
How long does coronavirus last?
Every case of coronavirus is different, but experts have a general idea of how long the typical course of the illness lasts. Most people can expect to recover within two weeks after the onset of symptoms, but more severe cases could last up to six weeks — and for some, dubbed “Covid long haulers,” symptoms can linger for months.
What are the symptoms of the coronavirus?
Symptoms of the coronavirus can seem a lot like the flu. Initially, a fever, cough, and shortness of breath emerged as the three most common symptoms of COVID-19. Now, other signs such as muscle pain, fatigue, and loss of taste and smell are on the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) symptoms checklist.
How long does coronavirus live on surfaces?
Though the conronavirus is typically transmitted through the air via respiratory droplets (from an infected person sneezing or coughing) rather than by touching objects and materials, the virus can still remain viable on variety of surfaces, according to the CDC, though it’s not exactly clear for how long.
How is coronavirus spread?
According to the CDC, COVID-19 is spread mainly from person to person, usually through close contact (within six feet). Being near an infected person who coughs, sneezes, or talks can expose you to their respiratory droplet carrying the virus — and they can spread the virus even if they don’t have any symptoms yet. If those virus-containing particles are inhaled (吸入) or land in your eyes, nose or mouth, you could become infected.
1. How long does coronavirus stay on surfaces?| A．Two weeks. | B．Six weeks. | C．Months. | D．Unclear. |
| A．contacting close (within six feet) |
| B．being near an infected person |
| C．talking with a healthy person |
| D．inhaling some virus-containing particles |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Health. | C．Education | D．Travel. |
2 . Virtual reality isn’t just for video games anymore. The technology is changing industries that many people had never thought it would, such as dairy farming.
Russian dairy farmers gave cows VR goggles (眼镜) with hope that they would be happier and make better milk. A farm just outside of Moscow is testing VR glasses for its cows, it says, in an effort to increase the quantity and quality of the milk produced.
That’s according to a news release published Monday from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Moscow region. It came accompanied by photos of a cow trying out its fancy new goggles. The ministry explains it like this:Studies have shown that cows, environmental conditions can impact the milk produced, specifically improving its quality or increasing its quantity. So, a team of developers, with the help of vets and consultants for dairy production, made some oversized VR glasses for cows. They adapted the human versions to account for cows’ different head shapes and eyesight, the news release says. And then voila! Cow VR glasses. And what were these cows experiencing with their new VR glasses? A wild, expansive field beneath the summer sun. A cow’s (virtual) paradise (天堂).
So far, it’s unclear if the glasses have helped milk production-further study will be needed for that. But a first test did reveal a decrease in anxiety and an increase in the emotional mood of the herd, the release said. To be fair, if we were transported to a vast field in the summertime, our anxiety and emotional mood would be better, too. Russian dairy farmers aren’t the only ones going the extra mile to keep their cows happy and improve product, though. Some Wagyu farmers set mood lighting, among other tricks, to keep their cows calm and producing the best beef possible. Others play them music, which one Missouri farmer says leads to better milk.
1. Why were VR glasses used in the farm?| A．To avoid cows’ fighting. | B．To cure the cows’ diseases. |
| C．To test the cows’ eyesight. | D．To get more and better milk. |
| A．Exciting movies. | B．Video games. |
| C．A vast field in the sun. | D．More cows in the distance. |
| A．Playing beautiful music. | B．Telling animal stories. |
| C．Choosing better meal time. | D．Photos of many cows. |
| A．Nature. | B．Science. | C．Education. | D．Entertainment. |
3 . SAN FRANCISCO — A dog that survived the catastrophic wildfire in Northern California apparently protected the ruins of his home for almost a month until his owner returned.
Madison was there waiting when Andrea Gaylord was allowed back to check on her burned property in Paradise this week. Gaylord fled when the Nov. 8 fire broke out and destroyed the town of 27 ,000. Shayla Sullivan, an animal rescuer, who responded to Gaylord’s request to check on Madison first spotted the male Anatolian shepherd mix several days later.
Shayla Sullivan said the outdoor guard dog was mentally upset and kept his distance. Sullivan left food and water for him regularly until Gaylord got back on Wednesday. She also helped locate Madison’s brother Miguel, another Anatolian shepherd mix that was taken to a shelter 85 miles (135 kilometers) away after the wildfire.
“If the evacuees (疏散人员) can’t be there, I’m going to be there and I’m not going to give up on their animal until they can get back in,” Sullivan said.
The dogs reunited Friday when Gaylord came back to the property with Miguel and brought Madison his favorite treat: a box of Wheat Thin crackers.
Gaylord told news station ABC10 she couldn’t ask for a better animal. “Imagine the loyalty of hanging on in the worst of circumstances and being here waiting,” she said. “Their job is to watch the sheep and we’re part of them.” Gaylord said about her dogs. “It’s a comforting feeling.”
1. Andrea Gaylord was deeply touched by Madison’s ________.| A．noble blood | B．special habit |
| C．being faithful to his master | D．narrow escape from the wildfire |
| A．Gaylord requested Sullivan to leave food and water for Madison. |
| B．Madison was afraid of getting close to Sullivan in the beginning. |
| C．Sullivan saved Miguel in order to comfort Madison. |
| D．Sullivan took both two dogs to a shelter 85 miles away. |
a. Miguel was taken to a shelter
b. the wildfire in Northern California broke out
c. Madison was treated with a box of Wheat Thin crackers
d. Andrea Gaylord applied for search and rescue of Madison
| A．d-c-a-b | B．b-d-a-c | C．d-a-c-b | D．b-a-c-d |
| A．Andrea Gaylord found Madison in a shelter. |
| B．Gaylord told news station she wanted for a better animal. |
| C．The Nov. 8 fire killed 27,000 people in the town. |
| D．Shayla Sullivan was kind-hearted and patient. |
4 . Hanging stockings by the chimney with care is one of the most popular Christmas traditions, but many families display theirs without wondering why. No one can be sure when and why the practice started, but some stories give us a clue.
One of the most popular origin tales starts with none other than St. Nicholas — yes, he was a real person. In the third and fourth centuries, St. Nicholas was a bishop in modern-day Turkey who made helping others his life mission, and he caught wind of a family in need.
As the story goes, a single father was raising three daughters but realized he didn’t have enough money to pay their dowries (嫁妆)---and without dowries, they couldn’t get married.
St. Nicholas heard of the family’s dilemma but knew they were too proud to accept handouts. To make sure they didn’t refuse his generosity, he secretly sent them gold at night. Some legends say he dropped gold down the chimney, and the gifts landed in the stockings that were laid by the fire to dry, while others claim Nicholas himself hopped down the chimney. Someone - either the father or the daughters, depending on the version of the tale - caught the bishop in the act and thanked him for his help. The gifts were enough for the daughters to marry and live happily ever after.
St. Nicholas, feast day was on December 6, and eventually, the tradition of leaving gifts in stockings was paired up with Christmas celebrations.
That makes a neat and tidy origin story, but some scholars suggest the stocking tradition might have started even before Christianity in Scandinavian cultures. The Norse god Odin was said to come on Christmas, riding on an eight-legged horse. Children would leave sugar, carrots, and hay in their shoes to feed the mythical horse, and Odin would leave them gifts in return.
We’ll never know whether these stories were true or not, but stockings have a strong foothold in Christmas tradition.
1. What can we know about St. Nicholas?| A．He was born on December 6. | B．He often sent gold to the poor. |
| C．He used to hang stocking at night. | D．He liked to help other people. |
| A．Objects made by hand. |
| B．Documents containing news. |
| C．Pieces of paper given to students. |
| D．Things given free to poor people. |
| A．To prove the tale of St. Nicholas is false. |
| B．To provide a different version of story origin. |
| C．To prove the Norse god Odin is as generous as St. Nicholas. |
| D．To provide detailed information about western cultures. |
| A．The story of St. Nicholas |
| B．Different practices of gift-giving |
| C．Stories behind Christmas stockings |
| D．The Christmas tradition in modern-day Turkey |
5 . It was in my first year of work as a doctor. My mouth was dry, my palms sweaty and my voice trembling. The only thing that kept me focused was the thought that things were so much worse for the family I was talking to.
A woman in her early twenties had been brought in after a road traffic accident. She had suffered multiple injuries and had been rushed up to theatre. The surgeons had been unable to save her life and she died on the table. Ashen-faced, the consultant (会诊医生) told the woman's family the news. “Tom, I think it would be nice if it came from you,” my consultant said.
I stared blankly. “What?” I asked.
“About organ donation,” he replied. I swallowed hard. Surely this would be the last thing they'd want to talk about. It felt acutely awkward and ill-timed to be considering this kind of conversation while they were being engulfed in grief. But the problem with organ donation is that every minute counts. The clock is ticking because the sooner organs can be transplanted, the better the chance they will survive in the recipient's (接受者) body.
I began to feel sick. I opened the door and sat opposite them, convinced that I was only going to make things worse for them.
“It's what she'd have wanted,” the mother said before I'd even finished. The father nodded. “She was always so generous,” her father added.
As my consultant and I left them, it occurred to me that I'd been wrong in thinking it would be an awkward conversation. Nothing could take away the pain of having lost their daughter. Yet this last, final act had comforted them and helped them feel that the spirit of their daughter lived on m this act of generosity. Strangely, it is one of the most heart-wanning conversations I have ever had.
1. The first two paragraphs suggest________.| A．the woman died on the scene |
| B．it was hard for the author to face death |
| C．the author witnessed the traffic accident |
| D．the woman's death was told by the consultant |
| A．He was caught in a dilemma. | B．He was seriously ill at that time. |
| C．He failed to transplant the organ. | D．The woman's chance of survival was slim. |
| A．To do the author a favor. | B．To show respect for the doctor. |
| C．To follow then daughter’s will. | D．To end the awkward conversation. |
| A．The consultant’s assistance. | B．The author’s consideration. |
| C．The donor’s kindness. | D．The recipient’s appreciation. |
6 . At eleven, I decided to learn to swim. There was a pool at the Y. M. C. A. offering exactly the opportunity. My mother continually warned against it, and kept fresh in my mind the details of each drowning in the river. But the Y. M. C. A. pool was safe.
I had a childhood fear of water. This started when I was three years old and father took me to the beach. The huge waves knocked me down and swept over me.
The pool was quiet. I was afraid of going in all alone, so I sat on the side of the pool to wait for others. Then came a big boy. He yelled, “Hi, Skinny! How'd you like to be ducked?” With that he picked me up and threw me into the deep end. I landed in a sitting position, and swallowed water. But I was not frightened out of my wits—when my feet hit the bottom, I would make a big jump, come out of the surface. It seemed a long way down. I gathered all my strength when I landed and made what I thought was a great spring upwards. Then I opened my eyes and saw nothing but water. I tried to yell but no sound came out. I went down, down, endlessly.
When I came to consciousness, I found myself on bed in hospital. I never went back to the pool. I avoided water whenever I could. This misadventure stayed with me as the years rolled by. It deprived(剥夺) me of the joy of boating and swimming. Finally, I decided to get an instructor. Piece by piece, he built a swimmer. Several months later, the instructor was finished, but I was not. Sometimes the terror would return.
This went on till July. I swam across the Lake Wentworth. Only once did the terror return. When I was in the middle of the lake, I put my face under and saw nothing but bottomless water.
I laughed and said, “Well, Mr. Terror, what do you think you can do to me?”
I had conquered my fear of water.
1. Which of the following brought about the author's fear of water?| A．An unpleasant memory of the pool. | B．An outing to the beach with his father. |
| C．His mother's warning of drowning. | D．His poor skill in swimming. |
| A．He felt that the Y. M. C. A. pool was safe. |
| B．He knew how to swim in the pool. |
| C．He came up with an idea to go upwards. |
| D．He was waiting for others to save him. |
| A．Diligent and cautious. | B．Determined and far-sighted. |
| C．Dependable and adaptable. | D．Demanding and courageous. |
| A．When swimming across the Lake Wentworth, the author's still awfully scared. |
| B．Recovering from hospital, the author showed no interest in water activities. |
| C．At first the author dare not swim on his own and wanted others' company. |
| D．Under the guidance of the instructor, the author could swim freely and bravely. |
7 . In summer 2007, I joined the British Red Cross at 15. After several days of training. I was attending my first event as a fully qualified Red Cross volunteer. Our team was providing medical cover for a large martial arts grading event.
Although I'd passed my first aid course with flying colours, I was nervous before the event began. There's quite a difference between the classroom and the real thing! Two experienced adult volunteers would be working with me for the day.
Rosie was taking part in the under-16s event. This was supposed to be non-contact, and she was wearing full protective clothing just in case. All these precautions didn't help, however, when her competitor misjudged a move and delivered a violent blow to her head.
“Guys, we need some help over here!” Over we went, all three of us carrying various bits of kit. Rosie was lying on the ground. As we approached we could see she was conscious. Brian, my colleague took the lead.
“Hey there, stay nice and still for me. Chris here is just going to hold your head. Don't worry; it's just a precaution.”
I helped, painfully aware that hundreds of sets of eyes were following our every move. However I soon forgot all about this as I focused on the task at hand.
Rosie was complaining of pain in her neck. These are all classic signs of a possible spinal injury. Quickly, Brian found there were no other injuries and an ambulance was called. I was still holding her head and doing my best to comfort her.
The doctors arrived and we put Rosie carefully into the ambulance for a trip to hospital. Then we went back to the first aid post quickly.
Ten years on I've met many more people like Rosie—in need of help. I've moved on from being a trainee to a trainer, from an inexperienced first aider to being part of an emergency ambulance team.
When a call comes in, that slight feeling of nervousness is still there. However, so is the feeling of making a difference, being there during a painful moment in someone's life.
1. What does the underlined part “with flying colours” probably mean?| A．Slowly. | B．Successfully. | C．Poorly. | D．Carefully. |
| A．She was hit by mistake. | B．She made a wrong move. |
| C．She didn't take precautions. | D．She was not herself and fell. |
| A．She took her to hospital. | B．She held her head and calmed her. |
| C．She checked her injuries. | D．She did something for her pain. |
| A．She often receives first aid training. |
| B．She's working as a professional doctor. |
| C．She feels a sense of achievement about her work. |
| D．She's no longer nervous when performing first aid. |
8 . One of life’s great mysteries is how aged parents produce youthful children. Our cells show signs of age as a result of the accumulation of damage caused by the environment and the body’s metabolism (新陈代谢), and yet they can combine to produce a baby biologically younger than its parents. This has led biologists to suggest that the germline (生殖细胞) are immune to ageing, which could lead to ways of curing age-related diseases.
But recent research shows that not only does the germline age, but that ageing starts even as embryos develop in the uterus (子宫), much sooner than we thought. “Then the question is, if ageing begins earlier, when does it actually begin?” says Vadim Gladyshev at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Gladyshev and his colleagues looked at the changes in cells and tissues from the start of mouse development. The team found that this measure of ageing began to decrease when the early embryo formed into a hollow ball and reached its lowest point after it had been fixed in the uterus. It then increased again as development progressed. The team also looked at data on human embryos, and found signs of a similar pattern at work, although ethical restrictions on growing human embryos beyond 14 days in the lab mean the team was unable to study every stage of development. The discovery points to a refreshing mechanism (机制) that rolls back ageing to a minimum point from which a new individual can begin life, says Gladyshev.
Ageing can also be changed in adult cells by reprogramming them into more immature cells. However, this also makes the cells lose their specialised adult functions, making it less useful as a way to repair age-related damage. Gladyshev hopes that further study will help reveal whether it is possible to separate these two processes.“This discovery is exciting, since it suggests a potential, naturally occurring refreshment that resets the biological time of germ cells during the first days of development,” says Belmonte at the Salk Institute in California.
1. What contributes to signs of age according to Paragraph 1?| A．Accumulation of age-related diseases. |
| B．Combination of the germline and embryos. |
| C．Ethical restrictions on growing human embryos. |
| D．Harm from environment and metabolic process. |
| A．The early embryo beyond 14 days. |
| B．The early embryo fixed in the uterus. |
| C．The early embryo with immature cells. |
| D．The early embryo forming into a hollow ball. |
| A．telling stories | B．giving examples |
| C．classifying facts | D．making comparisons |
| A．Recent study reveals two separate processes. |
| B．Slowing ageing may be harmful to adults’ health. |
| C．Specialized adult functions make cells less useful. |
| D．People can keep young by replacing immature cells. |
9 . In the delightful presence of adorable little things, it isn’t uncommon to be conquered by a desire to shout “Kawaii”. In Western culture, we’ve come to think of kawaii as a synonym for cute. In Japan, where the kawaii aesthetic (审美) has been its own pop culture phenomenon for decades, the word is a bit more complex.
Nittono, a kawaii researcher, says the Japanese word kawaii was originally an affective adjective that expressed one’s feelings toward an object. “In Japanese, we can say ‘feel kawaii,’” he adds. Visually, kawaii is tied to what researchers call baby schema—a large head, round face, and big eyes—but kawaii involves the other senses too. In a paper published in the journal Universal Access, researchers reported that people also label certain sounds as cute, and those sounds tend to be high pitched, like the chirp (鸣叫) of a baby bird.
Kawaii isn’t always what we would traditionally describe as cute, either. Ugly or strange- looking things can also bring about kawaii feelings, a concept referred to as kimo-kawaii, or “gross cute.”
Put simply, Nittono says, kawaii is the “cute emotion” you experience in the presence of something that elicits that emotion.
Kawaii doesn’t just make us feel good — it changes our behavior. Kawaii is what causes you to pinch (捏) a baby’s cheeks or snuggle (紧抱) a puppy. What’s more, kawaii not only makes you want to physically embrace the cute thing, but also enables a natural need to protect it. Kawaii also influences our feelings and behavior in other ways. It has a calming and healing effect, for instance. It also makes us soft — more easily influenced and open to requests. “I think kawaii, or cute feelings, reminds us of human connection that we sometimes forget,” says Nittono.
1. What is the author’s main purpose in writing the text?| A．To explain the word kawaii. | B．To praise the effect of kawaii. |
| C．To recommend a medical method. | D．To argue about a culture phenomenon. |
| A．It generally involves different senses. |
| B．It often conveys human’s negative feelings. |
| C．It is merely aroused by cute or familiar-looking things. |
| D．It is widely considered to originate from western cultures. |
| A．Expresses. | B．Inspires. |
| C．Contains. | D．Hides. |
| A．Examples of cute feelings. | B．Results of recent researches. |
| C．Definitions of new concepts. | D．Influences of kawaii on people. |
10 . Inside the World's Largest Flower Show
The RI IS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is the largest annual garden and flower show in the world. The showground covers 33 acres and most visitors stay for about 5 hours. It takes place in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace each July and is organized by the Royal Horticultural Society（RHS）.
Getting There
The nearest train station is Hampton Court. Full information of all travel options can be seen on the Getting to Hampton Court Palace page.
Tickets
Ticket prices start from £21.50.
Prices vary depending on the time and date of your visit.
Each full paying adult may bring two children aged 16 and under free of charge to the show.
Tickets are available on the door.
Opening Times
10a.m. until 7:30p.m.. It closes at 5:30p.m. on Sunday.
Tuesday and Wednesday: RHS Members only.
Official Website:www.rhs.org.uk
Tips for Visiting
● You could visit Hampton Court Palace on the same day but allow plenty of time as it takes 3-5 hours to visit the flower show and 1-3 hours to visit the palace.
● This is a temporary outdoor event on open parkland and is subject to varying weather and ground conditions. A temporary walkway is laid but it can still get pretty muddy if there's been heavy rain. Open-toed shoes and high heels are not usually appropriate footwear.
● Left Luggage and a drugstore service are both available on the show site.
● The Advisory Service offers free gardening advice to visitors. Check the information boards for locations.
● Plant and Product Deposit: There is a plant and product deposit service available where you leave your purchases while you enjoy the rest of your day out.
1. Where can you get the tickets?| A．On the website. | B．At the station. |
| C．At the entrance. | D．In the garden. |
| A．Drugs. | B．Flowers. |
| C．Gardening advice. | D．Transportation. |
| A．Sparing sufficient time. | B．Consulting the information desk. |
| C．Wearing whatever shoes they like. | D．Making good use of deposit service. |
