1 . Stephen Wamukota, a nine-year-old from Mukwa village in Western Kenya, is making the headlines worldwide for his creative hand-washing machine. The young boy came up with the idea after watching village residents, who didn’t have easy access to running water, struggle to find an effective way to wash their hands to avoid spreading and contracting COVID-19.
Using the few resources at hand –wood scraps, nails, and a bucket –Stephen designed and built a simple, but functional, cleansing station. The clever creation, which consists of two pedals (踏板) –one to release soap and the other to release water–enables villagers to wash their hands contact-free, thereby reducing the likelihood of catching the disease.“I had bought some pieces of wood to make a window frame, but when I came back home after work one day, I found that Stephen had made the machine,” his father, James, told the BBC. “The concept was his, and I helped tighten the machine. I’m very proud.”James credits Stephen’s building ability to the village school’s curriculum (课程), which teaches children to assemble (装配) and construct items from a very young age.
What does James think of the village school’s curriculum?
| A．He sings high praise for it. | B．He considers it very abstract. |
| C．He thinks it too professional. | D．He has reservations about it. |
2 . Returning to a book you’ve read many times can feel like drinks with an old friend. There’s a welcome familiarity — but also sometimes a slight suspicion that time has changed you both, and thus the relationship. But books don’t change, people do. And that’s what makes the act of rereading so rich and transformative.
The beauty of rereading lies in the idea that our bond with the work is based on our present mental register. It’s true, the older I get, the more I feel time has wings. But with reading, it’s all about the present. It’s about the now and what one contributes to the now, because reading is a give and take between author and reader. Each has to pull their own weight.
Why does the author like rereading?
| A．It evaluates the writer-reader relationship. |
| B．It’s a window to a whole new world. |
| C．It’s a substitute for drinking with a friend. |
| D．It extends the understanding of oneself. |
3 . My life as a tax-paying employed person began in middle school, when, for three whole days, I worked on an assembly (装配) line. My best friend Betsy’s father was an executive (管理者) at Hough Bakeries, which, at special festivals, made little rabbit-shaped cakes for all its stores. The plant downtown needed eight kids for temporary help, and the shift (轮班) fell over spring break, during which I had no plans. Cake? I loved cake-icing especially. I’d earn minimum wage. I’d see how a factory worked. My parents thought all of this was a grand idea for a girl like me and called Betsy’s dad with their permission.
Our roles on the line were simple: Place cakes on conveyor belt. Attach icing ears. Apply icing eyes and nose. Remove the cakes from belt; place onto trays. This was harder than it sounds. With your mind wandering, the cakes pile up. As I told my parents that first night, it was all a little more high-pressure than I’d expected. Dad smiled. This was the sort of work that made you appreciate the money you earned, he told me. And if your feet hurt or the minutes felt like hours, well then that was just motivation to keep those grades up and get that college education.
And the icing? We kids were allowed to eat as much as we wanted. By noon the first day, I could barely look at the stuff. To borrow a favorite phrase from my father: The executives weren’t born yesterday.
1. Why did the writer decide to take the job?| A．To earn lots of money. |
| B．To enjoy her spring break. |
| C．To help Betsy’s father temporarily. |
| D．To learn of the operation of the plant. |
| A．The writer found the job simple. |
| B．The job needed great concentration. |
| C．The writer quit the job the first night. |
| D．Father laughed at the writer’s performance. |
| A．Inspiring. | B．Doubtful. | C．Critical. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．She found the icing ugly. | B．She was tired from the work. |
| C．She had eaten too much icing. | D．She felt depressed with the job. |
4 . I have always been creative since I was a little girl. My childhood was filled with arts, crafts and music, and every day was an exciting adventure of creation.
Somewhere along the way, however, I lost touch with my creative self. At 21, I landed a job at a big insurance firm out of my business degree. I would go to the office, sit at my desk and repeat the same work five days a week, 9 to 5. The days were long and tedious. Working this way for one year was painful enough, let alone a lifetime. Before long I decided to make a change.
One thing I had developed an interest in was sewing, so I took a sewing course at a community college. It was only a five-week course but it awakened my interest and got my confidence up.
As I dreamed bigger, I began looking into college courses for Fashion Design and three months later I signed up for a part-time design course. I attended classes two nights a week. Although exhausting, it gave me energy, enthusiasm and happiness.
As it became more evident that fashion was what I wanted to do full time, the reality of my day-to-day work at the insurance firm became harder. I felt bored. No energy, no motivation and zero fulfillment.
I knew I needed to make a big change. After struggling for quite a while, I made a tough decision— leaving my job and studying my design course full time. Two years later I got my diploma.
The last few years have been exciting because I have been following my heart to do what I love. Today I'm living a creative life as the designer of my own fashion brand.
1. What does the underlined word in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Flexible. | B．Boring. | C．Pleasant. | D．Endless. |
| A．She quit her job and took the fashion design course full time. |
| B．She got a job and attended a part-time sewing course. |
| C．She successfully built up her own fashion brand. |
| D．She took sewing and fashion design courses full time. |
| A．To share her great achievement with us. |
| B．To appeal to us to live a creative life and make changes. |
| C．To inspire us to follow our heart and do what we really like. |
| D．To convince us of the vital importance of creativity and enthusiasm. |
5 . It’s almost spring, the time of year when the change in seasons could lead to some pretty fascinating cloud activity in the sky. NASA and the GLOBE Program are inviting you to take part in a citizen science cloud observation challenge.
The GLOBE Program is an international science and education program providing the public with the opportunity to participate in the scientific process. From March 15 through April 15, citizen scientists can make up to 10 cloud observations per day using the GLOBE Observer app or one of the other data entry options (for trained GLOBE members). Challenge participants with the most observations will be congratulated by a NASA scientist in a video posted on the GLOBE Program’s website and social media.
“The GLOBE Program is offering this challenge to show how important it is to NASA to have citizen scientist observations from ground up,” said Marile Colon Robles, lead for the GLOBE Clouds team at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
Researchers use and value this citizen science cloud data because it helps confirm data from Earth-observing instruments.
Scientists at Langley work with a set of six instruments known as the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES). Even though CERES’ instruments use advanced technology, it is not always easy for researchers to positively identify all types of clouds in their images.
For example, it can be difficult to tell thin, wispy cirrus clouds (细小的卷云) from snow, since both are cold and bright; it is even more so when cirrus clouds are above a surface with patchy snow (片状雪) or snow cover. One solution is to look at satellite images from a particular area and compare them to data submitted by citizen scientists on the ground.
“Looking at what an observer recorded as clouds and looking at their surface observations really helps us better understand the images that were matched from the satellite,” said Colon Robles.
You don’t have to be a cloud-gazing professional to participate. For those who want to be part of the challenge but don’t have a lot of experience identifying clouds, Colon Robles offers the following advice: “Just go outside. The more clouds you observe, the more comfortable you’ll be collecting data.”
1. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 1?| A．Provide background information. |
| B．Present an argument. |
| C．Attract readers’ attention. |
| D．Offer advice to readers. |
| A．The GLOBE Program is badly short of hands. |
| B．The technology CERES uses is not advanced. |
| C．Cirrus clouds are difficult to identify with snow cover. |
| D．Scientists can compare data from different instruments. |
| A．Citizen observers can only submit data by means of an app. |
| B．Observers with the most observations will receive a special honor. |
| C．Observations from the ground are not as valuable as satellite images. |
| D．The data collected by citizen scientists will be posted on social media. |
| A．NASA to Employ New Members. |
| B．Cloud Activities Bring a New Challenge. |
| C．Scientists to Teach You to Observe Clouds. |
| D．Citizens Gain Experience through Observation. |
6 . 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. |
7 . I woke up with drool (口水) on my pillow this morning. The alarm clock rang, and I reached over to turn it off. As I laid my face back down on the pillow, I felt the wet drool on my pillow case. I opened my eyes and saw a smiling, panting (喘气的), furry face gazing down at me. I tried to get up, but she was too fast. My face was suddenly covered in kisses with one going straight up my nose and another right in my ear. I laughed, reached out and picked up the eight-pound love machine and held her away from my wet face. It was just another morning in a life with dogs.
Why do we welcome them into our homes and our hearts? We know that most likely we are going to outlive them and have our hearts broken when they age quickly and pass away after ten to fifteen years. We know that there will be vet bills, flea baths and enough fur to make a vacuum cleaner cry. We know that our ears will ring from the barking, that we will be picking up the animal waste every single day and that we will never get to finish a full sandwich again.
Yet, when we are feeling down or blue, there will always be a soft head on our lap needing to be pet. When we get home after a long day’s work, there will be a happy face at the door waiting for us. Our lives will be full of balls to throw, bellies to scratch, and love and loyalty that will warm our hearts and uplift our souls.
For thousands of years, dogs have been our best friends. They remain one of the greatest gifts life has ever given us. Even if they can’t love us for the rest of our lives, they will always love us for all of theirs.
1. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “outlive” in Paragraph 2?| A．Hate. | B．Survive. | C．Donate. | D．Kill. |
| A．The dog slept in the writer’s bed last night. |
| B．The dog wakes up the writer every morning. |
| C．The writer will keep the dog company for about 50 years. |
| D．The writer enjoys the dog’s company despite the trouble. |
| A．Neutral. | B．Negative. | C．Favourable. | D．Indifferent. |
8 . Thanks to Arizona's tax credit program, taxpayers can make a big difference with their dollars. Learn how these four organizations are making a difference and how you, too, can be part of the solution to help the underserved through donations.
Catholic Charities Community Services
Catholic Charities Community Services provides adoption for foster（领养）children as well as education and certification for foster families throughout central and northern Arizona. But they can't do it without your help. You can change the life of a child.
Visit Catholic Charities at www. catholiccharitiesaz. org to learn the impact your gift makes.
Catholic Community Foundation（CCF）
Established in 1983. CCF aims to build the future of faith by providing sustainable support for those who serve the community. Since 1995, CCF has given more than $ 27 million back into the community through donor-advised funds, savings and growth funds, etc.
You can learn more by visiting ccfphx. Org.
Catholic Education Arizona
Catholic Education Arizona has been creating future leaders for 23 years. And it has raised 268 million and awarded underserved youth 138,000 scholarships to change lives, strengthen families and transform culture. With more than $9 million remaining to claim, interested corporations are encouraged to contact our office for more information.
You can learn more by visiting catholiceducationarisona. Org.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The staff and volunteers at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul packaged more than 4,000 meals for individuals and families to pick up on a daily basis. St. Vincent de Paul's family dining room, food boxes, medical and dental care, shelter and other services are nearly 100% funded by private donations. Donors can claim up to $800 in Arizona charitable tax credits.
Learn more at svdptaxcredit. info.
1. Taxpayers can learn more about their charitable gifts to foster children by visiting _________.| A．cefphx. org | B．www. catholiccharitiesaz. org |
| C．svdptaxcredit. info | D．catholiceducationarizona. org |
| A．Serving the community. | B．Supplying food to those in need. |
| C．Aiding foster children or families. | D．Financially supporting underserved youth. |
| A．They only offer service to families. | B．They provide help for patients. |
| C．They bring hope to the underserved. | D．They are profitable organizations. |
9 . France will gradually ban the use of wild animals in circuses, phase out orca（虎鲸）and dolphin shows and will ban mink（貂）farming for fur, the environment minister said on Tuesday. The transition will take several years and existing animal shows will receive government support to switch to a new model, Environment Minister Barbara Pompili told a news conference, "Today. I announce the progressive end of the presence of wild animals in travelling circuses, a ban on the presence of orcas and dolphins in dolphinariums not adapted to the needs of marine mammals, and the end of mink farming for fur," she said. She added the measures would affect about 80 circuses, which have some 230 animals, including big cats, elephants, hippos, wolves and others.
France, which has three dolphinariums, will not allow the opening of new ones and wants the closure of existing ones within seven to ten years. She also wants the closure of four mink farms within five years. The state will provide an aid package of more than 8 million euros to help animal shows switch to a new business model. Some European countries have already banned or limited the presence of wild animals in circuses. In France, many cities already do not allow circuses with wild animal shows to put up their tents.
Head of the French animal shows association William Kerwich said the ban is "a knife in the back" of an industry already hurting from coronavirus crowd limits.
"It will put people out of work. And who will take care of the animals, they are born in captivity（圈养）, they cannot be set free in the wild," he said on BFM television, Animal Rights Foundation Brigitte Bardot said in a statement it would welcome all circus animals, "who are currently kept captive and exploited in terrible circumstances".
1. What new regulation has been announced by Barbara Pompili?| A．A ban on pet shows. | B．A ban on fur industry. |
| C．A ban on wild animal shows. | D．A ban on raising marine mammals. |
| A．To help animal shows |
| B．To aid more dolphinariums. |
| C．To support the mink farming. |
| D．To help circuses switch to a new business model |
| A．Many animals will die. |
| B．Many people will get hurt. |
| C．Many animal shows will disappear. |
| D．Many people will be affected by coronavirus |
| A．They will be set free in the wild. |
| B．They will be adopted by famous people. |
| C．They will be raised by the government. |
| D．They will be accepted by Animal Rights Foundation. |
10 . Maryland has plenty of attractive history, with many of its sites kept in good condition. Here are four of the best.
Fort MacHenry (Baltimore)
When the British attacked Baltimore in 1812, the buildings became important to the city’s self-protection. Francis Scott Key, a Washington lawyer, watched the battle through the night. He was so moved by the sight of the American flag still flying by dawn’s early light that he penned a poem, which would become the US national anthem (国歌). Visitors can learn about the history by films and introductions offered here.
Casselman River Bridge (Grantsville)
This beautiful stone bridge was built in the early 19th century, serving as an important link on the National Road in the past. It was the nation’s first major highway, connecting the Potomac and the Ohio River. It is a popular area for fly fishermen, photographers, and history lovers. The nearby Spruce Forest Artisan Village has historic houses, small hotels,and recreated buildings.
Washington Monument (纪念碑) State Park (Boonsboro)
The largest stone monument on the top of South Mountain, built in 1827, is the nation’s first-ever monument honoring George Washington. During the Civil War, the Union Army used this high point as its signal station. Today, you can climb up inside and enjoy attractive views of the surrounding Maryland countryside. There are many historical things related to the monument and the Civil War battle of South Mountain.
B&O Railroad Museum (Ellicott City)
This small building is the nation’s oldest surviving railroad station. Dating from 1830, it was the B&O Main Linens first stop out of Baltimore, 13 miles distant. According to a local story, it also was the finishing line for machines replacing all horses within the year. Today, the station is a museum showing the early first years of America.
1. What can we know about Francis Scott Key?| A．His poem was used as the US national anthem. |
| B．He liked recording wars by poems. |
| C．He fought in the war of 1812. |
| D．His protection of the American flag moved people. |
| A．has convenient transportation | B．was designed to honor a soldier |
| C．played an important role in wartime | D．is the earliest monument in the country |
| A．Fort MacHenry. | B．Casselman River Bridge. |
| C．Washington Monument State Park. | D．B&O Railroad Museum. |
