1 . On my first job as a sports editor for the Montpelier Leader Enterprise (MLE), I didn’t get a lot of fan mail, so my attention was caught by a letter on my desk one morning. The envelope bore the logo of the closest big-city paper, the Toledo Blade.
When I opened it, I read, “ Sweet piece of writing on the Tigers. Keep up the good work.”
It was signed by Don Wolfe, the sports editor. Because I was a teenager (being paid the grand total of 15 cents a column inch), his words could not have been more exciting. I kept the letter in my desk drawer until it got rag-eared. Whenever I doubted I had the right stuff to be a writer, I would reread Don’s note and walk on air again.
Later, when I got to know him, I learned that Don made a habit of writing a quick, encouraging word to people in all walks of life. “When I make others feel good about themselves,” he told me, “I feel good, too.”
Why are upbeat note writers in such short supply? My guess is that many who shy away from the practice are too self-conscious. They are afraid they will be misunderstood, sound old-fashioned or flattering. Also, writing takes time and it is far easier to pick up the phone. The drawback with phone calls, of course, is that they do not last. A note attaches more importance to our well-wishing. It is a matter of record, and our words can be read more than once, appreciated, and treasured.
What does it take to write notes that lift spirits and hearts? Perhaps just a desire and a willingness to express our appreciation. The most successful people write notes that are short on words and long on feeling, sincere, short, specific, and usually spontaneous (自发的) in nature.
It is difficult to be spontaneous, however, when you have to hunt for letter writing materials; so, keep paper, envelopes, and stamps close at hand, even when you travel. Fancy stationery (文具) is not necessary; it’s the thought that counts.
So, who around you deserves a note of thanks or approval? A neighbor, your librarian, a relative, your mate, a teacher, or your doctor? You do not need to be poetic. If you need a reason, look for a milestone, the anniversary of a special event you shared, a birthday, or holiday, and do not hold back your praise. Such words as “greatest” “smartest” “prettiest” make us all feel good. Even if your praises run a little ahead of reality, remember that expectations are often the parents of dreams fulfilled.
1. What kind of feeling did the author have after he read the letter from Don Wolfe？| A．Inspired. | B．Worry. | C．Shock. | D．Unhappy. |
| A．afraid of being out of date | B．too shy to flatter others |
| C．prepared to make phone calls | D．too concerned about what others think |
| A．praises often run ahead of reality | B．praises help in pursuing a dream |
| C．parents often write upbeat notes | D．parents expect children’s success |
| A．The Power of a Positive Note | B．Notes Help to Fulfill Dreams |
| C．The Necessity of Writing Notes | D．Note or Phone, Your Own Choice |
2 . Joint Statement from the IOC and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee
The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Abe Shinzo, held a conference call this morning to discuss the constantly changing environment with regard to COVID-19 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
President Bach and Prime Minister Abe expressed their shared concern about the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and what it is doing to people’s lives and the significant effect it is having on global athletes’ preparations for the Games.
In a very friendly and constructive meeting, the two leaders praised the work of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee and noted the great progress being made in Japan to fight against COVID-19.
The unprecedented and unpredictable spread of the outbreak has seen the situation in the rest of the world worsening. Yesterday, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating. There are more than 375,000 cases now recorded worldwide and in nearly every country, and their number is growing by the hour.
In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.
The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon (灯塔) of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present. Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
1. What is the purpose of the conference call between the President of IOC and the Prime Minister of Japan?| A．To talk about the ways of dealing with the spread of COVID-19. |
| B．To talk about the effect of COVID-19 on people’s lives around the world. |
| C．To praise Japan for the great progress they made to fight against COVID-19. |
| D．To talk about the situation of COVID-19 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. |
| A．Slowing down. | B．Developing fast. |
| C．Spreading gradually. | D．Causing concern. |
| A．COVID-19 has a great effect on the athletes’ preparations for the Games. |
| B．The situation caused by COVID-19 is worsening in many countries around the world. |
| C．The Tokyo Olympic Games will be rescheduled to a date not later than summer 2021. |
| D．The Games to be held in Tokyo will be named the Olympic Tokyo 2021. |
| A．The Tokyo Olympic Games is put off only to protect the health of the athletes. |
| B．The world will see hope of pulling through brought by the Tokyo Olympic Games. |
| C．The Olympic flame will be used as a light at the end of a tunnel of Tokyo. |
| D．Both the Olympic Games Tokyo and Paralympic Games Tokyo will not be held in 2020. |
3 . ★Kidding Around Kindergarten Early Childhood Teacher - Sydney
We are looking to employ a motivated and enthusiastic Early Childhood Teacher full-time.
Essential: New graduates welcome, appropriate Early Childhood qualifications
Interests and devotion in working with children
Good interpersonal and communication skills
Forward resume (简历) to: kiddingaroundkindy@bigpond.com
PH: 0400-626-897
★Children’s Services Child Care Worker
A permanent part-time position is available at Ku Killara Pre-school, Killara to work Thursday and Friday 7.6 hours per day. Salary within the range $16.5203 per hour to $17.0818 per hour, depending upon qualifications and experience.
Make your career at a place that’s about growing, learning and developing, go to www.ku.com.au
For more detailed information, call 0401-438-487
★Receptionist Required!
Working for a professional company in the CBD Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
Providing quality, professional and polite service to all clients and customers
Dealing with faxes and mail
No experience required
General ad hoc (临时的，专门的) duties as required
To apply online, please contact Gemma Barber on gemma.barber@gemteq.com.au, quoting the Job Title.
★Ku-ring-gai Council Gordon, NSW Library Assistant - Gordon
Salary: $38,175 - $44,283 p/a
7 day rostering (工作时间轮翻) system - some evening and weekend work may be required
Class C driver Licence and experience required
Council is seeking an enthusiastic person for the position of Library Assistant. You will assist the Gordon Branch Librarian in providing efficient and effective library services to the general public and Council staff as required. The position requires effective communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, and alphabetical (字母), literacy (读写) and numerical (数字的) abilities.
Further application details on our website www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/jobs
Contact: Margaret Phillis, Sydney, NSW Australia
Ph: 9424 0910
1. Who do you suppose would be most probably interested in the above information?| A．Full-time students. | B．Advertisers. |
| C．Job hunters. | D．Employers. |
| A．Early Childhood Teacher. | B．Child Care Worker. |
| C．Receptionist. | D．Library Assistant. |
| A．contact Gemma Barber | B．call 0400-626-897 |
| C．call 0401-438-487 | D．contact Margaret Phillis |
4 . When I was in senior high school, I was greatly fond of playing volleyball and thus signed up for the school team whose coach was Mr. Forest. At that time, being skinny was a fashion for all teenage girls. I also had such a dream. Besides training as hard as possible, I reduced my eating amount to an awful degree. Soon I began losing weight, which thrilled me, and I even grew to love the tiredness and light-headedness that came with my poor diet, for those feelings meant that I was winning.
As the season progressed, things became bad between Coach Forest and me. He felt that something was wrong with my health. He talked with me about my eating and was angry that I wouldn’t listen to him when he tried to make me eat. He tried to persuade me in a determined way and so we fought constantly. Then my hunger started to affect my performance. I was so tired that practice and games were becoming a struggle. One afternoon, with deep hurt in his eyes, Coach Forest asked me what I had eaten and I told him nothing at all. He looked at me, disappointment in his eyes, and walked away.
A couple of weeks later I attended a formal dinner for our volleyball team. I stood there as my coach managed to say something nice about me. Then I realized that I had ruined my senior year by being disrespectful, and I had probably ruined his mood as well. So that evening I wrote him a letter, making a sincere apology and thanking him.
Then one Saturday, as I was in the library, someone gently patted my arm and said softly, “Linda Walter, how are you doing?” I looked up and saw the familiar face. “Thanks for the letter,” he said. “It meant a lot.” When I think of a coach, I think of someone above me, someone who gives instruction, but not a friend. But Coach Forest is different, and, like any other good friend, he dealt with my problem in a determined way even when I hated him for it at that time. I didn’t deserve his kindness, but he selflessly gave it regardless of my terrible attitude. I will forever be grateful for his help, and for his unexpected friendship.
1. When the author ate a poor diet and had a sense of tiredness, how did she feel?| A．Anxious. | B．Nervous. | C．Ashamed. | D．Very excited. |
| A．She didn’t quit her idea. | B．She followed his advice. |
| C．She left the volleyball team. | D．She apologized to him. |
| A．She felt sorry for eating too little food. |
| B．She decided to improve her performance. |
| C．She felt sorry for her being disrespectful and was grateful for Forest’s care. |
| D．She wanted to build a closer relationship with Forest. |
| A．My Apology to My Coach | B．Unexpected Friendship |
| C．A Strict Volleyball Coach | D．A Fight Between My Coach and Me |
5 . A roadside system that detects if a mobile phone is in use in a passing vehicle is being tested in the UK first. Despite being unable to tell whether the driver is using the phone, it is hoped that it will act as a warning to people who make calls behind the wheel. The technology picks up the phone signal in the vehicle and activates a roadside warning sign of a mobile phone with a red line through it.
The system cannot tell the difference between a driver and a passenger on a bus, but to some degree it can warn drivers that they can be detected using their phones. Using a directional antenna (天线)，the detector picks up radio waves produced by a phone handset, and measures the signal strength and length of them. When a signal is detected of duration (持续时间) long enough and signal strength strong enough to set off the system, the detector activates the warning sign. The detector is able to distinguish Bluetooth connections or hands-free devices which, when picked up, will prevent the activation.
While this new system is no replacement for a police officer catching someone in the act, it could be enough to make some drivers think twice- and that has to be a positive step forward. However, just as technology has enabled the problem of drivers using mobile phones illegally, it can also be a big part of the solution in getting people to stop. Statistics from the devices will be shared with Norfolk Police, the county council said. The council said that enabling the system to record specific number plates could be a "future development".
Using a mobile phone at the wheel is one of the four road crimes which can have horrible consequences if it causes a deadly or serious car crash. Law enforcement (执行) technology has been falling behind for a decade and not made any easier by motor producers that encourage users to plug in their phones even before driving.
1. Why is the roadside system used according to Paragraph 1?| A．To send out cellphone signals to drivers. |
| B．To detect drivers' illegal use of cellphone. |
| C．To monitor people's use of phones while driving. |
| D．To warm people against using pones while driving. |
| A．It measures the length of the phone. | B．It warns drivers with a phone in hand. |
| C．It picks up radio waves from handsets. | D．It activates the vehicle's Bluetooth system. |
| A．Swift to Bluetooth while driving. | B．Have a close watch of road signs. |
| C．Avoid being picked up by detectors. | D．Stop using a hands-free mobile phone. |
| A．Share the devices with the police. | B．Make the system more advanced. |
| C．Replace the police with the new system. | D．Take steps to settle road safety problems. |
6 . A simple gesture can be formed into a child’s memory so quickly that it will cause the child to give a false answer to a question accompanied by that gesture. A new finding suggests that parents, social workers, psychologists and lawyers should be careful with their hands as well as their words.
While memories of both adults and children are easy to react to suggestion, those of children are known to be particularly influenced, said lead researcher Sara Broaders of Northwestern University. Kids are used to looking to adults to tell events for them and can be misled even if not intentionally.
Previous research, for example, has shown that detail-loaded questions often cause false answers; when asked, say “Did you drink juice at the picnic?” the child is likely to say “yes” even if no juice had been available. It is not that the child is consciously lying, but rather the detail is quickly formed into his or her memory.
To avoid this problem, social workers have long been advised to ask children only open- ended questions, such as “What did you have at the picnic?” But an open-ended question paired with a gesture, briefly meaning a juice box, is treated like a detailed question. That is，children become likely to answer falsely.
And it isn’t just a few kids: 77% of children gave at least one piece of false information when a detail was suggested by an ordinary gesture. Gestures may also become more popular when talking with non-fluent language users, such as little kids, Broaders said as hand movements can impart meaning of unfamiliar words and phrases. “It certainly seems reasonable that adults would gesture more with children. ’’
In general, Broaders advises parents and other adults to “try to be aware of your hands when questioning a child about an event. Otherwise, you might be getting answers that don’t reflect what actually happened. ’’
1. What can we know about gestures from the text?| A．They are rarely used by people. | B．They have certain effect on children. |
| C．They have not any function at all. | D．They are often used by social workers. |
| A．Children are easy to tell lies. | B．These gestures are very attractive. |
| C．Their memories are affected easily. | D．These gestures are used frequently. |
| A．Where are you going Lucy? |
| B．What will you have for lunch? |
| C．Did you see anything else last night? |
| D．Did you cheat in the last English examination? |
| A．Pass on. | B．Tell apart. |
| C．Confuse. | D．Separate. |
7 . Every time we get on a plane, we’re asked to either turn off our phones or change them to flight mode — it’s for “security reasons”. But according to The Conversation website, having to turn our phones off on a plane is “a service issue, not a safety one”.
When we speak on our phones in the air, they can cause interference to the aircraft’s radios and pilots can hear this interference in their headphones. “It’s the same noise you’ll be familiar with, if you put your mobile too close to a speaker,” the Mirror noted. “It is not safety-critical, but is annoying for sure.” Though speaking on a phone during a flight isn’t dangerous, from the viewpoint of service, it isn’t still a good idea. When we make or receive a call on the ground, we connect to a cell tower that deals with all calls within an 80-kilometer radius (半径). As we move from place to place we are “handed on” to different cell towers. As US scientist Sven Bilen explains, for this system to work, there are “built-in” expectations: There shouldn’t be too many “handoffs” and people shouldn’t be traveling faster than car speeds. “Of course, phone users should be close to the ground.” he added. If we were to make phone calls while we flew, however, none of these expectations would be met. And even worse, our cellphones would stop working.
But now things are beginning to change. If we still can’t speak during a flight, we can use other phone functions. For example, Airbus A330 of Emirates Airlines has inflight WiFi to make passengers send and receive short messages in the air. In the future, as Bilen points out, it may be possible for air travelers to make and receive calls freely. The breakthrough could be “pico cells”, which are small cell towers on the plane itself. There would no longer be connections made between phones and the ground and therefore there would be no danger of disturbance of phone service.
One day, perhaps, we will be chatting in the air as much as we chat on the ground.
1. Why is making a phone call NOT allowed on a plane?| A．Because it will pose a threat to their safety. |
| B．Because it can guarantee a better service. |
| C．Because it fails to be connected to the cell tower. |
| D．Because it may cause annoying noise to pilots. |
| A．One. |
| B．Two. |
| C．Three. |
| D．Four. |
| A．People need to travel slower than airplane speeds while phoning. |
| B．Pico cells may contribute to free phone calls on a plane. |
| C．Undisturbed phone service has been provided by airlines. |
| D．Passengers can receive calls on Airbus A330 through inflight WiFi. |
| A．A newspaper. |
| B．An official document. |
| C．A guidebook. |
| D．A science fiction story. |
8 . Gardening is popular in many parts of the world. It brings us sweet smelling flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables. But you can get more from your garden.
Gardening helps to keep healthy. Today’s people sit indoors for too long and don’t get much exercise. When you garden, you have to move around. It’s a good chance for you to exercise your body by watering flowers or doing some digging. Besides, when you are in your garden, you can feel the warm sunshine. This means you are getting Vitamin D. It helps your bodies use calcium (钙), which is necessary to keep your bones (骨骼) strong.
____It gets them off computers, televisions and phones. Gardening can be a great teacher to teach children about nature and healthy eating. It can also help them to understand the meaning of “No pains, no gains.”
Gardening is a great way to meet people and build relationships. When you are gardening, you are outdoors. So it is a perfect time to communicate with your neighbors. Most people love to talk about their hobbies and so do gardeners. They usually enjoy showing people what they are growing. And most enjoy sharing advice and stories about their gardens.
1. When it’s______, you can get Vitamin D in your garden.| A．sunny | B．cloudy | C．snowy | D．rainy |
| A．watching TV | B．watering flowers |
| C．walking dogs | D．playing with phones |
| A．Gardening will be good for your bones. |
| B．Gardening may help people to feel happy. |
| C．Gardening is a great activity to do with children. |
| D．Gardening can be a good way to meet neighbors. |
| A．Outdoor Activities | B．Advantages of Gardening |
| C．Heating Eating habits | D．Relationships with neighbors |
9 . It has always been thought that when it comes to tornadoes, the most peaceful place is the centre: the eye of the storm. But a photo taken this week in the small Canadian town of Three Hills, Alberta, suggests that there is perhaps no place more peaceful than inside the calm mind of Theunis Wessels.
It all started when Mr Wessels’ wife, Cecilia, was warned by their nine-year-old daughter that he was cutting grass in their yard when a violent tornado appeared in the distance. When her husband refused to come inside, saying it was moving away from them, Mrs Wessels took a photo to show her parents the storm. The photo, which has been shared widely on social media, is a masterclass in calmness.
In it, the sockless Mr Wessels, dressed casually in summer shorts and sunglasses, is seen never being upset by the disastrous column of cloud. “I took the picture just to show my mum and dad in South Africa, ‘Look, there’s a tornado,’ and now everyone is like, Why is your husband cutting the grass?” Cecilia told the Times Colonist.
When asked later about the tornado’s approach to him, Mr Wessels responded, “I was keeping an eye on it,” seeming as cool as his gardening style and attracting more than a little respect. “Alberta, Canada,” wrote one admiring Twitter user, “where men face the elements and do what needs to be done.” A writer for Esquire magazine struck a pensive note: “I can understand Theunis,” Peter Wade admitted, “sometimes when the world is raging outside, the only thing you can do is keep your small area of it.”
1. How is Paragraph one developed?| A．By listing theories. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By analyzing causes. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．To post it on social media. | B．To record her husband’s heroic act. |
| C．To inform her parents of the tornado. | D．To prove what is the most peaceful place. |
| A．His way of gardening. | B．His calmness in the face of a tornado. |
| C．His bravery in fighting the tornado. | D．His rich knowledge about tornado. |
| A．A man ignored a tornado in Canada. | B．There are some features of tornado in Canada. |
| C．A man survived surprisingly from a tornado. | D．A picture caused heated discussions. |
10 . I was 16 years old the day I skipped school for the first time. It was easily done: Both my parents left for work before my school bus arrived on weekdays, so when it showed up at my house on that cold winter morning, I simply did not get on. The perfect crime!
And what did I do with myself on that glorious stolen day, with no adult in charge and no limits on my activities? Did I get high? Hit the mall for a shoplifting extravaganza (狂欢)?
Nope. I built a warm fire in the wood stove, prepared a bowl of popcorn, grabbed a blanket, and read. I was thrilled and transported by a book—it was Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises—and I just needed to be alone with it for a little while. I ached to know what would happen to Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley and Robert Cohn. I couldn’t bear the thought of sitting in a classroom taking another biology exam when I could be traveling through Spain in the 1920s with a bunch of expatriates (异乡客).
I spent that day lost in words. Time fell away, as the room around me turned to mist, and my role—as a daughter, sister, teenager, and student—in the world no longer had any meaning. I had accidentally come across the key to perfect happiness: I had become completely absorbed by something I loved.
Looking back on it now, I can see that some subtle things were happening to my mind and to my life while I was in that state of absorption. Hemingway’s language was quietly braiding itself into my imagination. I was downloading information about how to create simple and elegant sentences, a good and solid plot. In other words, I was learning how to write. Without realizing it, I was hot on the trail of my own fate. Writing now absorbs me the way reading once did and happiness is their generous side effect.
1. Why did the author skip school on that day?| A．Because her parents left home early. | B．Because it was a cold winter morning. |
| C．Because she was fascinated by a novel. | D．Because she hated to take the biology exam. |
| A．Reading by the fire. | B．Travelling in Spain. |
| C．Breaking the regulations. | D．Being occupied by one’s passion. |
| A．Entering. | B．Destroying. |
| C．Mending. | D．Blocking. |
| A．I was tired of my real-life roles. |
| B．I learnt how to write on the internet. |
| C．Hemingway skipped school when he was young. |
| D．Becoming a writer was my childhood dream. |
