1 . For decades, China had wanted a Nobel Prize in science. Tu Youyou, a researcher who helped to develop a malaria（疟疾）medicine, finally won the country that honor.
In fact, Tu is not the only scientist in China who is catching the world’s attention. In 2016, the Nature journal published a list of the top 10 science stars in China. Gao Caixia and Cui Weicheng are two of them.
Gao Caixia has been devoted to genetic engineering for her whole career. She is known for using CRISPR-Cas9, the revolutionary gene-editing technique that is sweeping through biology labs around the world – in crops.
At first, Gao was unwilling to take up gene editing using CRISPR-Cas9 because her lab at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology in Beijing had already created mutations（变异）in 82 genes using an older type of technology. But after thinking carefully about it, she decided to give it a try.
After a year of hard work, her lab finally succeeded. Gao worked on genetic engineering in wheat, a crop that is famous for being difficult to work with. Now she is considered one of the best in the world at engineering wheat.
Cui Weicheng is the developer of China’s record-setting Jiaolong submersibl（e 潜水器）. He is now a professor at Westlake University. In 2012, Cui rode inside China’s Jiaolong submersible and reached a depth of more than 7,000 meters in the Pacific.
Thanks to Jiaolong and the 57-year-old developer, China is now one of only a few nations that can explore the deep sea. Jiaolong can travel deeper than any other manned research submersible currently in use, which shows China’s increasing ambition and leadership in deep-sea research.
1. Why is Tu Youyou mentioned at the beginning of the passage?| A．To show one of China’s long-held dreams. |
| B．To stress the importance of the Nobel Prize. |
| C．To praise Tu Youyou for her contributions. |
| D．To introduce more top Chinese scientists. |
| A．Because she failed in her attempt to study other crops. |
| B．Because she was expert at wheat engineering. |
| C．Because wheat is hard to be genetically engineered. |
| D．Because wheat is the most widely planted crop in China. |
| A．He teaches about sea at a university. |
| B．He developed Jiaolong submersible. |
| C．He is devoted to genetic engineering. |
| D．He reached the bottom of the ocean. |
| A．China’s Science Stars | B．China’s Nobel Prize Dream |
| C．Gao Caixia－China’s Crop Engineer | D．Cui Weicheng－China’s Deep Diver |
2 . Volunteering abroad is a great way to help others，improve your skills and become a more confident，independent person. If you are interested in volunteering abroad，here are some places to go.
Australia
If you seek a life on the beach，in a great climate with friendly people，Australia might be your best bet. With thousands of volunteers already signing up to leave for Australia during the holidays，it will be a very popular option.
Brazil
This vast country has some great opportunities on offer and is especially popular this year. A lot of volunteer work is available in Brazil centers on conservation and ecological projects. With the world's largest rainforest in Brazil，of which huge part is in danger，there are lots of different jobs you can do.
Kenya
Kenya is the destination for those seeking an African experience. Generally volunteers in Kenya work in orphanages (孤儿院) or with local children living in slums. There is a great demand for volunteers in Africa because many people live in poverty，so if you truly feel like making a difference to a community，Kenya should be at the top of your list.
Costa Rica
Golden sandy beaches，clear coastlines and beautiful cities are what Costa Rica is all about. Because of its small size，you can see a lot of the country in just a short time. You can really make the most of your time as a volunteer. A lot of work is needed with wildlife and ecological work，so if you want to look after turtles on the beach，Costa Rica could be just the place for you.
1. If you are interested in protecting the environment，you will probably go to .| A．Australia | B．Brazil | C．Kenya | D．Costa Rica |
| A．animals | B．plants | C．the elderly | D．children |
| A．take care of trees in the forests | B．surf with children in the water |
| C．work with animals on the beach | D．look after children who have lost their parents |
3 . You might have heard a lot about ancient towns and ancient cities in China. Here, we list several of the most beautiful ancient villages in China.
Baoshan Stone City, Yunnan Province
Baoshan Stone City was built on a huge mushroom-shaped rock, and only has about one hundred houses. The houses are laid out in an orderly way, built on the rock, and linked by stone steps. The Naxi people there still lead an original life and grow crops in terraces(梯田); you can experience the colorful culture of the Naxi ethnic(民族的) group there.
Tuvas Village in Kanas, Xinjiang
Kanas Tuvas Village is near the mysterious Lake Kanas. The small village is located in a valley, and only has about 80 houses. These Swiss-style wooden houses are all surrounded by wooden fences. Tuvas is an ancient minority group. They traditionally lived as hunter-gathers. You can visit a local family, go herding(放牧) with the locals and experience the peaceful ancient village life.
Jiaju Tibetan Village, Danba, Sichuan Province
Jiaju Tibetan Village is known as the “Tibetan fairyland”. It stands on a mountain slope, and consists of about 140 houses. These unique houses are all built with crown-shaped roofs, red caves, and white walls, which make the houses look like little castles among the forest.
Xijiang Miao Village, Guizhou Province
If you’re interested in the Miao Minority, Xijiang Miao Village can be a great destionation for deepening your understanding of Miao history and culture. It’s the largest Miao village in China, and now has 1,432 households with a population of over 5,000, of which 99.5% are Miao ethnic group. It’s also famous for the houses built on poles of different heights.
1. What can you do in Kanas Tuvas Village?| A．Hike in terraces. | B．See houses of a foreign style. |
| C．Go hunting with the locals. | D．Learn about houses built on poles. |
| A．In Baoshan Stone City. | B．In Kanas Tuvas Village. |
| C．In Jiaju Tibetan Village. | D．In Xijiang Miao Village. |
| A．They remained secret to the outside world in the past. |
| B．They were originally built to defend their homeland. |
| C．They are still cut off and difficult to access nowadays. |
| D．They are the ethnic villages with unique architecture. |
4 . Listening to music is considered a good thing for adults. Indeed it is. Scientific studies have proved it. Music has so many good effects on our body, mind and mood that this world will certainly not be a good place without music. Then, is music good for children? Some parents think so and let their children learn or listen to music. But some parents don't know the importance of music to children. Here are some reasons why music is important to children.
First, music is good for children’s intelligence. Studies have proved that children who learn music are likely to have higher intelligence than those who have no interest in or dislike music. This is because the brain gets stimulated (刺激) by the rhythm and tone of music.
Music also has soothing (抚慰的) effect on children and helps remove their stress. Today’s children are under a lot of stress from schoolwork. Being under too much stress impairs children’s health. Luckily，listening to music can help them feel better.
Music can improve children’s moods. Some children are sad by nature. They seem to be lost in their own thoughts and don’t take interest in their surroundings. In such cases，a method known as “music therapy” comes to their rescue. It changes their moods and places a new kind of spirit in them.
Music is also a universal language that children ought to learn. Our world has become a global village. People are getting more and more interested in other cultures and countries. Music can help them in understanding foreign cultures.
Now we can say that music is very important not only to adults but also to children. So children should be encouraged to learn music or listen to music.
1. By mentioning scientific studies in Paragraph 1, the author wants to show .| A．Children should listen to music |
| B．Why adults should listen to music |
| C．Listening to music is only good for adults |
| D．Why scientists are interested in music |
| A．shows. | B．changes. |
| C．improves. | D．harms. |
| A．Understanding foreign cultures better |
| B．Learning languages better |
| C．Accepting the fast developing world easily |
| D．Showing greater interest in other cultures |
| A．Why do Children Love Music? |
| B．How to Choose Music for Children |
| C．Why is Music Important to Children? |
| D．How to Teach Children Music Easily |
5 . Smoking in your own home in Thailand may now be considered a crime, if the smoke is considered harmful to other people in the house.
The new law, Family Protection and Development Promotion Act, aiming at controlling smoking at home which might be hazardous for others' health living under the same roof，was initiated by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and was announced in the Royal Gazette on May 22, 2019. It came into force on August 20.
According to the center for research and knowledge management for tobacco control, at the Faculty of Medical Science of Mahidol University, there are about 4.9 million households where one or more family members smoke. An average of 10.3 million people have unwittingly（不知不觉地） become passive smokers because they’ve been breathing smoke at home. Scientific studies show that passive smokers are at greater risk of being affected by cancer. Of 75 child patients from houses where smoking is practiced, 76% of them were found to have nicotine traces in their urine（尿液）, with 43% of them having nicotine content exceeding（超过） permissible levels.
Smoking at home also “may lead to physical or emotional violence” because of aggressiveness when there is a lack of smoking, and might as well ruin relationships between smokers and non-smoker family members.
According to the new law, anyone who thinks they are affected by domestic smoking can report to government departments concerned so that officials will be sent to investigate and take legal action against the smokers. Once convicted(证明有罪的), the court may order a person to receive treatment to quit smoking in an attempt to protect the person's family.
1. What does the underlined word “hazardous” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．risky | B．beneficial |
| C．influential | D．dangerous |
| A．by listing figures | B．by giving examples |
| C．by comparing the differences | D．by explaining the reasons |
| A．smoking anywhere in Thailand is considered a crime. |
| B．passive smokers are more likely to have lung cancer . |
| C．76% of the children in Thailand have nicotine traces in their urine. |
| D．smoking at home may hurt other family members both physically and emotionally. |
| A．anybody must report to the officials once they are affected. |
| B．officials will take legal action against all the people concerned . |
| C．smoking in one’s own home in Thailand may now be considered a crime. |
| D．the court may order a smoker to stop smoking to protect all nonsmokers . |
6 . Emperor Penguins
Emperor penguins are considered the most beautiful and the largest of all penguins. They are amazing birds. They are good survivors, excellent swimmers and great parents. Do you know where we can see them?
You are absolutely right! Antarctica. Only Antarctica!
Antarctica is the continent which is the most southern area of land on the Earth and is mostly covered with ice. It is colder, drier and windier than any other place on the Earth. The lowest temperature can reach -89.2℃. In order to survive the extremely tough environment, emperor penguins have to cooperate. They crowd together to protect themselves from the wind and keep warm. Meanwhile, they take turns to move to the relatively warm inside.
Emperor penguins live on a diet which consists of different types of fish and other kinds of sea life. To find food, these birds, which are unable to fly, can dive much deeper than any other kind of penguin. Their dives often reach about 244 metres, and they can even dive to more than 535 metres when necessary. They can remain under water for almost 18 minutes, longer than any other kind of penguin.
Emperor penguins have a very hard time bringing up their babies. They have to go to great lengths to care for their children. After laying an egg, the tired female emperor penguin will leave the family behind to feed at sea, while the male is left to take care of the egg. For two months, the father, whose duty is to keep the egg safe and warm, carries his egg around on his feet and will give up eating until the mother returns. He does not sit on the egg like many other birds, but stands and balances it on his feet. Thus he is at the mercy of the Antarctic weather. When the mother returns from the sea, sometimes up to 60-80 kilometres away, she throws up some of the food for the chick and takes the male's place to look after it. The father then takes his turn to feed at sea. Cooperative parenting at its finest.
By December, during the Antarctic summer, when the ice begins to break up and open water appears, the young emperor penguins are now ready to be excellent survivors, good swimmers and great parents on their own. What an amazing cycle it is!
1. The underlined word "cooperate" in the third paragraph means ___________.
| A．work together | B．fight against cold |
| C．protect themselves | D．move to warm places |
| A．feed on only certain types of fish |
| B．live in the most terrible weather conditions |
| C．are amazing birds that can both fly and swim |
| D．stay in water 18 minutes longer than other penguins |
| A．great parents who sit on eggs to keep them warm |
| B．the most beautiful and the largest birds in the world |
| C．good survivors and they move to warm places in winter |
| D．excellent swimmers and they can dive deeper than other penguins |
| A．the chicks break up the eggshells in summer |
| B．an Emperor Penguin lays several eggs at a time |
| C．the male Emperor Penguins hatch the eggs in winter |
| D．the chicks are ready to live on their own one year later |
7 . Nature has provided us with many kinds of resources. It is like a great magician(魔术师), creating wonders on Earth. One of them is the Amazon rainforest, the world’s largest and home to millions of plants and animals. Nicknamed”the lungs of our planet”, it produces about one-fifth of Earth’s oxygen. However, this wonderful natural wonder is now in danger.
Thousands of fires have broken out in Brazil, endangering much of the rainforest. These flames have lasted several weeks and are believed to be the”most intense”in almost ten years, according to BBC News.
The Amazon has seen a large number of fires in 2019. Between January and August, there were over 74,000 fires – the highest number since 2013, the BBC reported.
Forest fires are common during the dry season, which runs from July to October. They are usually caused by natural events like lightning. However, most of the fires this year are believed to be caused by farmers, who use fire as a traditional part of tropical agriculture(农业) to clean land, reported CNN.
“It’s the best time to burn because the plants are dry. Farmers wait for the dry season and they start burning and clearing the areas so that their cattle can have grass,”wrote CNN meteorologist Haley Brink.
The disaster has raised concern(关注) around the world. The Amazon rainforest is important for preventing climate change, said the BBC, absorbing millions of tons of carbon annually. When trees are cut down or burned, the rainforest’s ability to absorb carbon is reduced.
Brazilian climate expert Carlos Nobre told Reuters he’s worried. If more than 20 percent of the ecosystem is destroyed, the Amazon rainforest could reach a”tipping point (临界点)”, where the thick jungle will turn into a tropical savannah(大草原).
Nobre warned that it is not far off, with between 15 and 17 percent of the rainforest having already been destroyed.
The Brazilian government has sent soldiers to fight the fires. Many people have offered their support and called for recovery efforts. For example, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, said he wanted to donate money and US Actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental charity, Earth Alliance, created a donation fund to help deal with the disaster.
The public are also encouraged to donate to charities concerned with rainforest protection. “Every little bit helps in a bad situation like this,”commented Gizmodo.
1. The underlined word”intense”probably means ______.| A．natural | B．terrible | C．common | D．unexpected |
| A．Lightning. | B．Hot weather. |
| C．Agricultural activities. | D．Garbage left by tourists. |
| A．Global temperatures will rise. |
| B．The Amazon rainforest is close to disappearing. |
| C．Animals in the Amazon rainforest are under threat. |
| D．It will take tens of years for the Amazon rainforest to recover. |
| A．Efforts made to save the Amazon rainforest. |
| B．The possible future of the Amazon rainforest. |
| C．What the Brazilian government has done to fight fires. |
| D．Celebrities(名人) who care about rainforest protection. |
8 . For some years，my mother worked for a charity as President and Secretary.Selling raffle tickets(兑奖券) was her main means of bringing in the charity’s muchneeded funds.We girls would accompany her，selling tickets with great success.My father made and donated beautiful wooden toys，jewellery boxes and other lovely items as prizes.
Now my sister was always coming up with “good ideas”，most of which didn’t work out to plan.But that didn’t deter her.She had many just waiting to be tested.When she was eight and I was just five，we had a wonderful idea for a business adventure.We decided we would sell raffle tickets for charity，and that charity was us!
So one afternoon，we told our mother we were going to play in the park with our cousins as we did most days after school.But instead，we walked around the streets armed with a raffle book，a pen and a large cloth bag to carry the money.
We’d accompanied our mother many times when she sold tickets，so people were familiar with us when we appeared at their doors.Despite the blank looks they received when asking about the prizes on offer，they were very generous.Although there were no actual prizes，our mother’s previous track record enabled us to sell nearly the whole book of raffle tickets.
Like a little pair of lottery(彩票) winners，we walked home and proudly showed off our takings.But our enjoyment of this sudden wealth was shortlived，and our plans for spending it quickly failed.Our angry mother took us back to every ticket buyer，making us apologise and give the money back.Thankfully，our sweet neighbours didn’t make a big deal of our “clever” misbehavior and thus my mother’s
fundraising career could continue safely.We were taught a good lesson by our mother that day.Also I remember my sister’s entrepreneurial(企业家的) spirit dried up a bit after that.
1. What did the author’s father do?
| A．He got prizes ready. | B．He sold handmade items. |
| C．He was in charge of a charity. | D．He helped design raffle tickets. |
| A．Embarrass. | B．Shock. |
| C．Discourage. | D．Mislead. |
| A．They ran into their mother. |
| B．They met some generous strangers. |
| C．They got lost while walking around the streets. |
| D．They took advantage of people’s trust in their mother. |
| A．Honesty is the best policy. | B．What’s done can’t be undone. |
| C．Misfortune never comes alone. | D．Good advice is beyond all price. |
9 . Recognized as "the goddess scientist"，Ning Yan（or Nieng Yan），42，is a leading biology researcher at Princeton University in the US. On April 30，she was included among 100 new members and 25 foreign associates into The National Academy of Sciences，a famous scientific institution that aims to recognize outstanding research in the US.
Yan is a rising star in the science world and her resume（履历）is impressive. After graduating from Tsinghua University and Princeton，she was invited to set up her own laboratory at Tsinghua in 2007. At age 30，she became one of China's youngest-ever female professors.
It was a long road to get where she is now. She told People magazine that she always believes that scientists need to have a pure mind and determination.
Yan likes to work at night，because she can focus when the outside is quiet. She also works at least 14 hours a day，but she's energetic，because research is the most "comfortable” job for her，according to an interview with People magazine.
This devotion to her work probably helped Yan in her research to identify the structures of proteins in cells' plasma membranes，which puzzled scientists for half a century. Her achievements got her listed among the journal Nature's Science Stars of China in 2016.
Yan also enjoys TV dramas and classic novels. Surprisingly，the novel Journey to the West inspired her to become a structural biologist. In the book，the Monkey King turns into other animals. She wondered what it would be like to change herself. Luckily. Yan now lives in that world every day，exploring how proteins work at the level of atoms. “It was almost destined（命中注定的）that I would become a structural biologist，"she said in an interview with Nature.
As she realizes her own dreams，Yan tries to encourage more women to follow careers（职业）in science. In her eyes，there is no difference between men and women in the scientific fields.
“Women can work as excellently as men and live the way they choose to，"she said in a public interview.
1. What made Ning Yan become a member of the National Academy of Sciences？| A．Her social background. | B．Her impressive wisdom. |
| C．Her first-class education. | D．Her outstanding research. |
| A．People magazine. |
| B．Journey to the West. |
| C．The journal Nature. |
| D．Science Stars of China. |
| A．scientists can win success by working at night |
| B．women can match men in scientific achievements |
| C．more women should be allowed to take up science |
| D．scientists should enjoy TV dramas and classic novels |
| A．It is never too late to learn. |
| B．Many hands make light work. |
| C．Actions speak louder than words. |
| D．Nothing is impossible to a willing mind. |
10 . A study has found that a lifetime of regular exercise and activity can slow down the aging process (衰老过程). Researchers say that getting older should not necessarily mean becoming more weak or sick. Their research shows that a devotion to a life of movement and exercise may help us live not only longer, but also healthier.
For their study, the researchers looked at two groups. The first group was made up of 125 non-professional cyclists between the ages of 55 to 79. This group included 84 healthy men and 41 healthy women. We will call this group the “cyclists”.
Researchers then found 130 people to make up a second group. Within this group, 75 people were aged from 57 to 80. The other 55 were between the ages of 20 and 36. The people in this group were also healthy, but they did not exercise regularly. We will call this group the “non-exercisers”. Smokers, heavy drinkers of alcohol and people with other health issues were not included in the study.
Then, researchers gave both groups a series of tests. They tested their muscle mass (肌肉质量), muscular strength, percentage of body fat and the strength of their immune (免疫的) systems. Then the researchers compared the results of the two groups.
Results showed that the cyclists did not experience body changes usually regarded as a normal aging process. For example, they did not lose muscle mass or muscular strength. Also, their body fat did not increase with age.
The researchers also found something they had not expected. The study showed that the immune systems of the cyclists did not age either.
The researchers advise us all to find an exercise that we like in our lives.
1. How did the researchers carry out the study?| A．By comparing. | B．By discussing. |
| C．By imagining. | D．By reasoning. |
| A．The cyclists kept a thin body shape. |
| B．The non-exercisers gained weight easily. |
| C．The cyclists’ muscles remained strong with age. |
| D．The non-exercisers usually had health problems. |
| A．The cyclists had normal aging process. |
| B．The cyclists’ immune systems didn’t age. |
| C．The cyclists lost nearly all their fat. |
| D．Everyone needed an exercise in their lives. |
| A．Healthy People Need More Exercise |
| B．Take an Exercise, the Harder, the Better |
| C．Cycling Is the Best Way to Prevent Aging |
| D．A Lifetime of Exercise Slows Aging Process |
