1 . As students return to school this fall, many of them- perhaps especially those from historically disadvantaged student groups- will be starting the academic year with achievement levels lower than where they were at the beginning of summer break. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as summer learning loss. We review what is known about summer loss and offer suggestions for schools looking to solve the problem.

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Traditionally, educators and policymakers have relied on conventional summer school programs to solve summer learning loss. Not surprisingly, research suggests that programs are more effective when students attend consistently and spend more time on task academically. Regardless of the design, these policies should offer engaging options for students over the summer so that summer learning programs do not feel like punishment for students who would rather be enjoying summer vacation. Doing so would set more students up for success as the school year gets underway.

1. In writing paragraph 1, the author aims to__________.

A．propose a definition	B．make a comparison
C．present an issue	D．make an argument

2. What does the author think of summer school programs?

A．The conventional programs are ineffective.

B．More choices should be provided for students.

C．Students should do more academic tasks.

D．The programs are punishment for students.

2 . By day, Robert Titterton is a lawyer. In his spare on stage beside pianist Maria Raspopova — not as a musician but as her page turner. “I’m not a trained musician, but I’ve learnt to read music so I can help Maria in her performance.”

Mr Titterton is chairman of the Omega Ensemble but has been the group’s official page turner for the past four years. His job is to sit beside the pianist and turn the pages of the score so the musician doesn’t have to break the flow of sound by doing it themselves. He said he became just as nervous as those playing instruments on stage.

“A lot of skills are needed for the job. You have to make sure you don’t turn two pages at once and make sure you find the repeats in the music when you have to go back to the right spot.” Mr Titterton explained.

Which of the following best describes Titterton’s job on stage?

A．Boring.	B．Well-paid.
C．Demanding.	D．Dangerous.

3 . For nearly a decade now, Merebeth has been a self-employed pet transport specialist. Her pet transport job was born of the financial crisis(危机) in the late 2000s. The downturn hit the real estate (房地产) firm where she had worked for ten years as an office manager. The firm went broke and left her looking for a new job. One day, while driving near her home, she saw a dog wandering on the road, clearly lost. She took it home, and her sister in Denver agreed to take it. This was a loving home for sure, but 1, 600 miles away. It didn’t take long for Merebeth to decide to drive the dog there herself. It was her first road trip to her new job.

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This wanderlust is inherited from her father, she says. She moved their family from Canada to California when she was one year old, because he wanted them to explore a new place together. As soon as she graduated from high school she left home to live on Catalina Island off the Californian coast, away from her parents, where she enjoyed a life of sailing and off-road biking.

It turns out that pet transporting pays quite well at about $30, 000 per year before tax. She doesn’t work in summer, as it would be unpleasantly hot for the animals in the car, even with air conditioning. As autumn comes, she gets restless—the same old wanderlust returning. It’s a call she must heed alone, though. Merebeth says, “When I am on the road, I’m just in my own world. I’ve always been independent-spirited and I just feel strongly that I mush help animals.”

1. Why did Merebeth changed her job?

A．She wanted to work near her home.

B．She was tired of working in the office.

C．Her sister asked her to move to Denver.

D．Her former employer was out of business.

2. What can we learn about Merebeth in her new job?

A．She has chances to see rare animals.

B．She works hard throughout the year.

C．She relies on herself the whole time.

D．She earns a basic and tax-free salary.

4 . Zero waste was a radical lifestyle movement a few years back. I remember showing my parents a video of Bea Johnson, sharing how cool I thought it would be to buy groceries with jars, and have so little trash! A few days later, I came back with my first jars of zero waste groceries, and my dad commented on how silly it was for me to carry jars everywhere. It came off as a bit discouraging.

Yet as the months of reducing waste continued, I did what I could that was within my own reach. I had my own bedroom, so I worked on removing things I didn’t need. Since I had my own toiletries (洗漱用品), I was able to start personalising my routine to be more sustainable. I also offered to cook every so often, so I portioned out a bit of the cupboard for my own zero waste groceries. Perhaps your household won’t entirely make the switch, but you may have some control over your own personal spaces to make the changes you desire.

As you make your lifestyle changes, you may find yourself wanting to speak up for yourself if others comment on what you’re doing, which can turn itself into a whole household debate. If you have individuals who are not on board, your words probably won’t do much and can often leave you feeling more discouraged.

So here is my advice: Lead by action.

1. What was the attitude of the author’s father toward buying groceries with jars?

A．He disapproved of it.	B．He was favorable to it.
C．He was tolerant of it.	D．He didn’t care about it.

2. What can we infer about the author?

A．She is quite good at cooking.	B．She respects others’ privacy.
C．She enjoys being a housewife.	D．She is a determined person.

5 . Special Food Places to Try In Singapore

It’s an unpleasant fact that local food places are usually meant to cater to meat-eaters. It can be difficult to find a tasty food place that caters to meat-free diet. Here are some options to show you don’t need meat for a satisfactory treat.

Vegan Burg

Vegan Burg has a surprisingly diverse range of plant-based burgers. From Hawaiian Teriyaki to Char-Grilled Satay, the menu promises to tempt even the most hardcore meat lovers. And that’s not even getting into the add-ons and sides it offers, such as mushroom fries and barbecue potatoes.

Woods Square Tower, #01-06, Singapore 737737

Genesis Restaurant

This eatery proves that meat-free dishes can be as hearty and flavorful as their meat-based counterparts. Genesis Restaurant is especially known for its juicy dumplings, spring rolls, pork-free noodles and tofu cheesecake.

Havelock Road, #B1-01, Singapore 059763

WellSmoocht Collective

WellSmoocht is a cafe and dessert bar which specializes in plant-based ice cream. Made from brown rice, sugar cane juice and fruits or nut butters, Smoocht’s rice cream, as they call it, comes in a wide variety of delicious flavors such as Earl Grey Lavender,Rose Coconut and Gula Melaka.

Sin Ming Centre, #01-03, Singapore 575628

Green Common

This one-stop plant-based eatery and marketplace has a delicious menu of mouth-watering meat-free dishes, from Japanese cuisine like sushi and miso glazed fillet to Western dishes like fishless tacos and pasta, as well as local favourites such as seafood laksa and even buah keluak rice.

HarbourFront Walk, #169-170, Singapore 098585

Who is the passage intended for?

A．Those who want to lose weight.

B．Those who don’t eat meat.

C．Those who can’t go without meat.

D．Those who prefer home-made food.

9 . Eggs-perimenting with eggs

What can you do with eggs other than eat them?

Naked Eggs

What does an egg look like without its shell? You may be picturing the white and yolk in a bowl after cracking it, but that isn’t the only way to remove the shell.

Materials: an egg, white vinegar, a bowl, a spoon

Directions: Fill a bowl with one cup of vinegar. Add the egg to the bowl, and wait at least 24 hours. When you check it after a day, you’ll notice some bubbles on the egg and a residue (残留物) in the water. Use the spoon to gently remove the egg from the bowl. Dump out the old vinegar, and add a cup of fresh vinegar. Return the egg to the bowl, and wait another 24 hours. When you remove the egg this time, the shell should be completely dissolved. What remains will be the contents of the egg.

Walking on Eggshells

Can Eggs hold the weight of your entire body?

Materials: six cartons (硬纸盒) of eggs, a garbage bag

Directions: Place the garbage bag on the floor to make any necessary clean up easier. Place the cartons of eggs into two rows of three. Make sure all the eggs are pointing in the same direction— either all pointy end up or all rounded end up. Step onto the first carton of eggs carefully. Make sure your foot is as flat as possible and that you are distributing your weight evenly. If you’re careful, you will succeed. Eggs are actually incredibly strong. The arch shape at the top and the bottom of the egg allows pressure to be distributed evenly over the egg. If you were to place the eggs on their sides instead, you’d be likely to wind up with a gooey (胶粘的) mess.

What was the author’s purpose in writing this text?

A．To persuade readers to use eggs in new ways.

B．To entertain readers with funny use for eggs.

C．To tell readers some ways to experiment with eggs.

D．To inspire readers to conduct experiments carefully.