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 . If you are planning a New Year’s Eve party, make sure you have more planned than just the champagne toast at midnight and the finger foods. Your guests will have a much better time if you set up some games for them to play and enjoy.
Guess the Resolution（新年计划）—Give each member of the party five pieces of paper and a pencil. Ask them to write down five resolutions without writing down their names. Place all of the resolutions in a hat and mix them up. Pull pieces of paper out of the hat one at a time and see if your guests can guess which person came up with the resolution. There will be some fun surprises as strange or entertaining resolutions are read out loud.
New Year’s Rock Band—This game requires a collection of noisemakers, pots, pans and wooden spoons. These items will be your guests’ instruments as they play a song on the popular Guess That Tune game. Split the group into two teams. Have one team select four members to be their rock band for the turn and whisper the name of a song to the band members. The band must then play the song using their instruments while the rest of their teammates try to guess. The team gets a point if they get the song correct. Repeat the same step with the other team. This game will yield ridiculous performances of popular and entertaining songs.
Around the World-Most—New Year’s Eve parties don’t start until late evening. An around the world theme allows the party to start earlier in the day, with a celebration each time a new time zone reaches midnight. A world map displayed in the party room allows guests to track the current celebration. Adding a pin in each time zone as it reaches midnight adds an interactive element to the party. A menu with food from around the world emphasizes the theme of the party. Decorations may include globes and items from different parts of the world.
1. Which is necessary in “Guess the Resolution”?| A．Writing down resolutions with one’s name. |
| B．Reading out the resolutions one by one. |
| C．Putting some of the resolutions in the hat. |
| D．Writing down five resolutions on a piece of paper. |
| A．The host. | B．The band. |
| C．The teammates of the band. | D．The other team. |
| A．The party takes place in the evening. |
| B．There are guests from around the world. |
| C．There are various New Year’s Eves. |
| D．The celebrations last for several days. |
3 . The flu season arrives so predictably, and affects so many of us, that it’s hard to believe that scientists have had very little idea why cold weather helps germs to spread.
Worldwide, up to five million people catch the illness each flu season, and around a quarter of a million die from it. Part of its power comes from the fact that the virus changes so quickly that the body is hardly prepared. “The antibodies we’ve built up no longer recognize the virus – so we lose our immunity,” says Jane Metz at the University of Bristol. It also makes it harder to develop effective vaccines, and even if one comes out, governments often fail to persuade enough people to take it up.
The hope is that by understanding better why flu spreads in winter, but naturally fades in summer, doctors could find simple measures to stop its spread.
Previous theories had centred on our behaviour. We spend more time indoors in the winter, meaning that we’re in closer contact with other people who may be carrying germs.
Another popular idea concerned our physiology(生理机制): the cold weather weakens your body’s defenses against infection. In winter, without much sunlight, we may run low on Vitamin D, which helps power the body’s immune system. Moreover, when we breathe in cold air, the blood vessels in our nose shrink, which affects the normal function of white blood cells, allowing viruses to slip past our defenses unnoticed.
While such factors both play some role, analyses suggested another ignored cause may have been lying invisible in the air that we breathe. Thanks to the laws of thermodynamics(空气热力学), cold air can carry less water vapor before it reaches the “dew point” and falls as rain. So while the weather outside may seem wetter, the air itself is drier as it loses the moisture. And researches in the past few years has shown that these dry conditions seem to offer the perfect environment for the flu virus to flourish.
In wetter air, the epidemic struggles to build strength, while in drier conditions it spreads like wildfire. And comparing 30 years’ climate records with health records, Jeffrey Shaman at Columbia University found that flu epidemics almost always followed a drop in air humidity.
1. What can we infer from the second paragraph ?| A．We lose immunity due to the absence of our antibodies. |
| B．The antibodies fail to function due to variation of virus. |
| C．Government should come up with better ways to persuade people. |
| D．One in four of the infected die from the influenza each flu season. |
| A．To help develop effective vaccine. |
| B．To seek ways to treat people infected with flu. |
| C．To figure out ways to cut off its transmission. |
| D．To explore how to defend our immune system. |
| A．Destroying bodies’ immune system. |
| B．Powering our bodies’ immune system. |
| C．Killing numerous viruses that we take in. |
| D．Stopping us acquiring enough Vitamin D. |
| A．Ways to prevent infection of flu | B．Flu-A disease not so hard to prevent |
| C．A predictable flu season | D．Why germs spread in winter |
4 . I once heard this tale in India, where it is told as if true—though any naturalist would know it couldn’t be. The country is India. A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They invite army officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist.
A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says women are no longer the jumping on a chair at the sight of a mouse and an army officer who disagrees and says, “A woman’s reaction in any crisis is to scream. And a man has more control than a woman.”
The American scientist does not join in the argument but sits and watches the faces of the other guests. As he stares, he sees a slight strange expression come over the face of the hostess. She gestures to the servant standing behind her chair and whispers to him. The servant’s eyes widen. He turns quickly and leaves the room. Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the servant place a bowl of milk on the balcony just outside the open glass doors.
In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing: bait (诱饵) for a snake. The American understands there must be a snake in the room. His eyes move across the room but see nothing. He realizes the snake can only be in one place — under the table.
His first reaction is to jump back and warn the others. But he knows any sudden movement will frighten the animal into striking. He speaks quickly, the tone of his voice so arresting that it quietens everyone. “I want to know what control everyone here has. I will count three hundred—that’s five minutes — and not one of you is to move a muscle. Ready!”
The 20 people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying, “—two hundred and eighty—” When out of the corner of his eyes, he sees the snake make for the bowl of milk. Four or five screams ring out as he jumps to close the balcony doors.
“There is your proof!” the host shouts. “A man has just shown us perfect self-control.”
“Just a minute,” the American says, turning to his hostess, “How did you know that snake was in the room?” With a faint smile coming across her face she replies: “Because it was lying across my foot.”
1. What can we conclude from the passage?| A．Women are afraid of mice. |
| B．The army officer’s opinion is wrong. |
| C．The American suggests playing a game for entertainment. |
| D．The hostess has had previous experience catching snakes. |
a. The American’s eyes sweep the room but he sees nothing.
b. The American suggests the guests playing a game.
c. Following the instructions, the servant puts out some milk.
d. The hostess is staring ahead, a slight strange look appearing.
e. The American shuts the balcony doors safely, and several screams are let out.
f. The snake edges its way to the bowl of milk.
| A．d,c,a,b,f,e | B．a,b,c,e,f,d |
| C．d,f,a,b,c,c | D．f,e,c,a,d,b |
| A．The American. | B．The army officer. |
| C．The girl. | D．The hostess. |
| A．A Heated Argument | B．A Striking Dinner Party |
| C．An Unbelievable Story | D．A Smart Hostess |
5 . Canada is a land filled with fascinating places and amazing adventures. The only problem: Narrowing down your choice of destinations. Here are several of the best places to visit in Canada for any traveler determined to discover the true north.
Churchill, Manitoba
Set on the shores of Hudson Bay, this subarctic（靠近北极的）town has earned international fame as the polar bear capital of the world. So plentiful are the bears that the town actually has a “polar bear prison,” which holds bears that are resistant to people's instruction and wander into town until they can be released back into the wild. Encountering a polar bear in the wild is no doubt an unforgettable experience.
Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta
Set inside the borders of the vast Banff National Park, Banff and Lake Louise is one of the best places to visit in Canada. Here you'll find a Rocky Mountain wonderland; a place of electric blue glacial lakes, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife (from elk to bighorn sheep). Stay either in Banff, the busy center of the area and home to classic hotels like the Fairmont Banff Springs (one of Canada's greatest hotels), or hike trails up into the mountains—and unparalleled(无与伦比的)silence-are just steps away.
Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick
Recently shortlisted in a massive international competition to name a new seven wonders of the natural world, the tides on this big bay, make it truly one of the best places to visit in Canada. The most extreme tides on earth, they rise and fall more than 50 feet in some places. These can be seen most dramatically at a place like Hopewell Rocks, unique stone formations that, at low tide, form towers on dry land but become islands as the water rises.
Quebec City
The oldest walled city in North America, Quebec City holds both British charm and culture alongside its unmistakable French-Canadian character. It also bears the distinction of being the place where, as every good Canadian history student knows, Wolfe defeated Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham, securing Canada for the British Empire.
1. Why are the polar bears put into prison in Churchill?| A．Because there are a large number of bears. |
| B．Because the government wants to attract more tourists. |
| C．Because they don't follow people's guidance. |
| D．Because they resist living in town. |
| A．When traveling in Canada, people have narrow choices of destinations. |
| B．You can enjoy neither busy life nor unparalleled silence in Banff and Lake Louise. |
| C．Hopewell Rocks stand like islands on dry land but turn into towers when the tide comes. |
| D．Britain and France once had a war to secure their own rule over Canada in Quebec City. |
| A．showing the most worth-visiting country | B．helping tourism boost in Canada |
| C．providing information for travelers to Canada | D．proving how knowledgeable the author is |
6 . My brother had, for years, a delightfully tame and lively blue-fronted Amazon parrot named Papagallo, which had an extraordinary talent for speech. Living with us in Altenberg, Papagallo flew just as freely around as most of my other birds. A talking parrot that flies from tree to tree and at the same time says human words, gives a much more comical effect than one that sits in a cage and does the same thing. When Papagallo, with loud cries of “Where’s the Doc?” flew about the district, sometimes in a real search for his master, it was funny.
Still funnier, but also remarkable from a scientific point of view, was the following performance of the bird. Papagallo feared nothing and nobody, with the exception of the chimney sweep. Birds are likely to fear things which are up above. And this tendency is associated with the natural fear of the bird of prey diving down from the heights. So everything that appears against the sky, has for them something of the meaning of “bird of prey”. As the chimney sweep in black stood up on the chimney and became outlined against the sky, Papagallo fell into a panic of fear and flew, loudly screaming, so far away that we feared he might not come back. Months later, when the chimney sweep came again, Papagallo was sitting on the weathercock, quarrelling with other birds who wanted to sit there too. All at once, I saw him stretch his neck and peer down anxiously into the village street; then he flew up and away, crying out in tough tones, “ The chimney sweep is- coming!” “The chimney sweep is coming! The next moment, the man in black walked through the doorway of the yard !
Unfortunately, I was unable to find out how often Papagallo had seen the chimney sweep before and how often he had heard the excited cry of our cook, which meant his approach. It was, without a doubt, the voice and intonation of this lady that the bird copied. But he had certainly not heard it more than three times at the most and, each time, only once and at an interval of months.
1. It can be inferred that the author_______.| A．might be a bird expert |
| B．must set a lot of parrots free |
| C．could talk with Papagallo |
| D．did have Papagallo look for his brother |
| A．Bird flying up high. |
| B．Bird hunting animals. |
| C．Bird having black feathers. |
| D．Bird diving down from the sky. |
| A．Why Papagallo feared the chimney sweep. |
| B．What the chimney sweep did to Papagallo. |
| C．How Papagallo had learnt to say the exact sentence. |
| D．How often Papagallo was seen by the chimney sweep. |
| A．Gifted | B．Caring. |
| C．Shy. | D．Talkative. |
7 . Last weekend, my kids and a few other kids from the neighborhood volunteered to help me wash my car. My 10-year-old daughter came up with the idea of washing other people's cars as well. It was very hot outside. And she wanted to give juice for a low cost but not free. I felt happy and decided to help her.
She asked me, “What if we make this ‘a smile car wash’， mommy? ” I couldn't hold back my tears and encouraged her and other kids to go inside the house and come up with ideas. While I kept myself busy in drying the car, the kids walked up to me with a board of beautiful signs of smiles. They had “Free Car Wash” written on it and the theme of their exercise was “Smile”. It was natural to see a team of kids 5 to 11 years with the task to do something for others.
All that seemed natural and came right from their heart. Nothing seemed to matter to them: their playtime, and the heat outside — they just wanted to help and do something nice!
I helped them make some fresh juice and brought out some waste materials to help clean cars. Passers-by were amazed and one even shouted at them saying “Good kids”. One of them even tried giving them 5 dollars, which they refused. What a heart-warming scene(场景)!
The following weekend, I saw the idea of the week, the theme of which was “Global Kindness”. I was moved by such wonderful and loving kids. They made me smile!
1. Who came up with the idea of washing other people's cars for free ?| A．The mother. |
| B．One of the passers-by. |
| C．The writer's 10-year-old daughter. |
| D．One of the writer's neighbors' kids. |
| A．She was moved by her daughter's kindness. |
| B．She felt sorry for those passers-by in hot day. |
| C．She was sorry for not helping the kids. |
| D．She thought it was very hard for the kids. |
| A．They wanted to earn money. |
| B．They were asked to do that by their teacher. |
| C．They just wanted to help and do something nice. |
| D．They wanted to exercise in smiling. |
| A．She supported the kids' ideas. |
| B．She made some fresh juice for the passers-by. |
| C．She brought out some waste materials to help the kids. |
| D．She gave the kids some money. |
8 . The Austrian capital, Vienna, has beaten Australia’s Melbourne to be named the world’s most livable city of 2018.It’s the first time a European city has topped the first of the Economist Intelligence Unit(EIU)annual survey.
The worldwide league table ranks 140 cities on a range of factors, including political and social stability, crime, education and access to healthcare.
In the survey, Manchester saw the biggest improvement of any. European city, rising by 16 places to rank 35th. Manchester’s rise puts it ahead of London in the rank by 13 places, the widest gap between the two cities since the survey began two decades ago. The EIU said Manchester’s jump in the rankings was due to an improved security score.
The survey was criticized last year for demoting(降级)Manchester after the Manchester Arena attack which killed 22 victims. This year, survey editor Roxana Slavcheva said Manchester had shown resilience(恢复力)in the city’s recovery from a recent terrorist attack, which previously shook up stability.
Ms.Slavcheva said security had also improved in several western European cities and Vienna’s top place in the rankings reflected a relative return to stability across much of Europe, According to the survey, nearly half of the cities have seen their livability ranking improve over the past year.
Melbourne, ranked second in this year’s global rankings, had previously come top for seven years running. Two other Australian cities also made this year’s top ten: Sydney and Adelaide.
At the other end of the scale, war-torn Damascus in Syria was ranked the least livable city, closely followed by Dhaka in Bangladesh and Lagos in Nigeria. The EIU said that crime, civil unrest, terrorism or war played a “strong role” in the ten-lowest scoring cities.
1. Which city was named the world’s most livable city in 2017?| A．Manchester. |
| B．Vienna. |
| C．Melbourne. |
| D．Dhaka. |
| A．Education. |
| B．Social stability. |
| C．Political stability. |
| D．Access to healthcare. |
| A．High crime rate. |
| B．Education. |
| C．Civil equality. |
| D．Wars. |
| A．To introduce the latest rank of cities based on their livable standard. |
| B．To explain different ways to measure a livable city. |
| C．To propose possible means to make a livable city. |
| D．To present what the cities are like globally. |
9 . TGBWP(the Great Books Winter Program) is an experience like no other in American education. For the past eleven years, TGBWP has gathered outstanding middle and high school students from across the world to read selections from the greatest works of literature, experience college-level lectures, engage in lively discussions and enjoy winter camp fun with other literary-minded students.
Here is a sample of what you will get at Great Books:
Membership in an international community of enthusiastic young learners and distinguished college teachers who read and discuss great books and big ideas. You will discuss the likes of Plato, Mark Twain, Dickens, and Tolstoy with other teens from around the globe who love literature just as much as you do!
Find your voice in the classroom. TGBWP gives students the opportunity to grow academically and socially as they prepare for high school and college. Open discussions encourage students to express themselves and give power to their ideas. Students gain confidence in their ability to read a text closely and express their ideas clearly both orally and in writing.
Experience time away from home and spend it at a top college -- choose from two campus settings: Amherst College in Massachusetts and Stanford University in California. This is the perfect opportunity to preview life on a college campus!
Don’t miss this opportunity to join students from 47 states and 28 countries in this unique learning environment.
| Categories | Reading/Writing Arts/Photography/Film Music/Singing/ Dancing Travel/ Touring Academic/Pre-College |
| Ages | 11-18 |
| Type | Overnight/Residential |
More information: CLICK HERE
1. What do we know about TGBWP?| A．A course on literacy skills improvement. |
| B．An education department of universities. |
| C．A camp suitable for teen literature lovers. |
| D．A program of studying American literature. |
| A．College-level evaluation in literature. |
| B．Admissions to world famous universities. |
| C．Free literature courses and literature works. |
| D．Chances to experience college life beforehand. |
| A．Contact information. | B．Membership benefits. |
| C．Registration requirements. | D．Activity arrangements. |
10 . Cities all over the world celebrate Christmas in unique and memorable ways. The following international destinations are just a few of the countless choices to consider.
Quebec city
Quebec city has long drawn admirers to its historic district the famed city wall, strange cobblestone lanes（鹅卵石小路）and handsome stone houses. This area transforms into a scenic Christmas village each December. The 403-year-old capital of Quebec province takes pride in the outdoors at Christmas time, when stone buildings shine with lights. Consider cross-country ski on the Plains of Abraham, or skate at the place D’ Youville square.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh, a magic city full of staircases and hills as well as Georgian and neo-Classical buildings, is famous for its mixture of the modern and the old. This is evident in winter, when Scotland’s capital puts on a six-week festival lasting until Jan. 6 that goes way beyond Christmas markets. You can ride roller coasters, climb a wall of ice and attend a vivid Christmas themed show by the cabaret troupe（剧团）La Clique.
Zurich
If buying gifts is on your travel schedule, Zurich is an impressive shopping center, particularly around the holidays, from multiple Christmas markets and the luxury（奢侈品）dress shops of Bahnhofstrasse Street, to the independent designers and antique shops in the merging industrial zones. Another annual lighting spectacle（壮观场面）, Lichterschwimmen, on Dec. 21, includes hundreds of tiny lanterns that are sent floating down the River Limmat.
Sydney
A lack of snow does not dampen the Christmas spirit in Sydney. One great and free way to feel the holiday is to take this Dec. 21 walking tour of George Street, which promises “the most sharable window displays and coloured lights.” One advantage over other destinations: warm, sandy beaches that lie just minutes from downtown, where the natural beauty of Australia’s most popular city will be waiting.
1. What can you do in Quebec city during Christmas?| A．Ride roller coasters. |
| B．Take part in a walking tour. |
| C．Enjoy cross-country ski. |
| D．Watch a Christmas-themed show. |
| A．Quebec city. | B．Edinburgh. |
| C．Zurich. | D．Sydney. |
| A．A guidebook. | B．A diary. |
| C．A novel. | D．A research paper. |
