1 .

No one can doubt the fact that education plays an important role in a person's life. However，different people prefer different ways of education. Recently，a survey in Canada found that about 40 percent of high school students are not in favor of daily homework，which quickly led to a heated discussion about whether daily homework should be ended or not in schools.

Some people insist that daily homework helps students a lot. Yet others are for the opinion that homework is nothing more than a routine activity that cuts time for leisure or physical exercise. It’s true that out­of­class activities should be valued in a student's development，but from my point of view，homework still plays an important role in one's life.

Doing daily homework is a way to build a foundation for a person's self­development. In the long run，students' study habits will be more developed and their awareness of the importance of learning will be raised by doing homework every day. An experiment carried out by the University of British Columbia found that former students who did homework every day still take part in self­study every day even though they have already graduated. Homework also helped give them a deeper understanding of how important education is in a person's life.

Students doing homework every day also have better time management skills，since daily academic exercises can help them plan their free time more effectively. Take me as an example，I spent a lot of time playing video games when I was in primary school when there was little homework to do. After I got to middle school，the time I spent on homework began to increase greatly. But it did not become a burden for me. Instead，it helped me get rid of my gaming habit as well as improve my ability to manage time.

Doing homework not only develops students' good habits and knowledge，but also improves their ability to manage their spare time. Although doing daily homework isn't ideal for everyone，people have to admit that the advantages it brings are more valuable than the harm.

1. What's the author's attitude toward doing homework?

A．Favorable.	B．Doubtful.
C．Neutral.	D．Critical.

2. Some students are not willing to do homework because they think___________．

A．there is no point in doing homework

B．doing homework takes up their spare time

C．there is too much homework for them

D．their daily homework is too easy

3. What section of a newspaper is this text most probably taken from?

A．Science.	B．Health.
C．Business.	D．Education.

4. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
a. Doing homework develops students' good habits.
b. Students have to waste their free time doing homework.
c. Doing homework does good to students' health.
d. Students improve time management skills by doing homework.

A．a，d	B．b，c
C．a，c	D．b，d

2 . Antiquities (文物) are ancient objects and artworks. Museums acquire works to exhibit from many different sources. Sometimes they purchase them. Other times they receive donations. Today there are strict guidelines forbidding art that has been stolen from other countries. However, antiquities that have been at museums for decades or even centuries may have arrived there by dishonest means. Now, some countries claim that museums have a responsibility to return these antiquities to their original locations.

Should museums return these antiquities? Malcolm Bell says yes. Bell is a retired professor of art at the University of Virginia. He says, "Many antiquities and artworks have special cultural value for a particular community or nation. When these works are removed from their original cultural setting they lose their context and the culture loses a part of its history." According to Bell, a country's request for the return of an antiquity "usually has a strong legal basis". It "was exported illegally, and is now stolen property". He called the return of antiquities "an expression of justice".

James Cuno says not always. Cuno is president of an art museum in Los Angeles. He agrees that museums have "a social and legal responsibility" to return illegally exported antiquities. However, he doesn't support the return of legally acquired works. He said, "An area of land held today by a given nation-state likely belonged to a different country in the past. Even if one wants to reunite scattered works of art, where will one do so? Which among the many countries, cities, and museums that own parts of a work of art should be the chosen 'home' of the reunited work?" Cuno believes that museums should collect art from the world’s diverse cultures. This should be done "through purchase or the long-term loan and working together with museums and nations around the world".

This debate is far from over. As a complex question with no easy answer, the issue requires more study.

1. What does the passage mainly discuss?

A．The return of antiquities.

B．The sources of ancient objects.

C．The cultural value of artworks.

D．The responsibility of museums.

2. What do both Bell and Cuno agree?

A．Illegally-owned antiquities should not be exhibited.

B．Museums should return illegally-owned antiquities.

C．Antiquities from other countries may lose their cultural value.

D．Museums should collect antiquities from different cultures.

3. What is the author's attitude toward the issue?

A．Positive.	B．Negative.
C．Objective.	D．Uninterested.

3 . China is developing a system that recognizes individuals by their body shape and walking movements.Systems that recognize human faces are already being used to identify people in crowds or as a secure way to unlock personal devices.

The new system,known as “gait recognition”,is already on trial by police on the streets of Beijing and Shanghai.The Chinese technology company Watrix developed the system.The company announced last month that it had raised $14.5 million to speed up the development and sale of the technology.

The system works in a similar way to face recognition.Cameras capture video of people in public places.Then,machines powered by artificial intelligence (AI) examine and study the video.

Facial recognition systems identify the shapes and expressions on a person’s face to identify them.Gait recognition uses a person’s body shape and their way of walking to identify them.The system records a person’s shape and movements and then creates a model of the way they walk.

Huang Yongzhen is a former researcher who co-founded Watrix in 2016.He told the Associated Press his system can identify people from up to 50 metres away.It is designed to work even when a person’s face is covered or hidden.Huang says his gait recognition system is correct 94 percent of the time.This is below the success rate of many face recognition systems.But he says the system can still be helpful to police and for other commercial purposes.He also believes the system can be effective when used together with face recognition.

Gait recognition is not new.The technology has been researched by scientists in Japan and Britain and by US defense officials for about 10 years.But attempts to sell the technology have been slow.One of the reasons the technology has not developed further is that the systems are more complex than facial recognition.

1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A．A system that can recognize human faces is around the corner.

B．It is tough to accurately follow a person in crowds.

C．A system that can identify a person by walking is being developed.

D．A new system that can check a body shape is under way.

2. What do you know about Watrix mentioned in the passage?

A．It has invented a lot of systems adopted by the police.

B．It has earned $14.5 million by inventing the system.

C．It has become famous for the face recognition system.

D．It has got well prepared for the new system.

3. Why is facial recognition similar to gait recognition?

A．Cameras catch video of people’s expressions.

B．A person’s body shape can be recognized very easily.

C．Cameras record video of a person in public places.

D．A person’s action will be sent to the police.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Japan and Britain kept a secret about the system.

B．The systems of gait recognition are hard to develop.

C．Gait recognition will suffer a poor market very soon.

D．Almost no one understands how gait recognition runs.

4 . There was a time an event would not begin without a photographer.“I remember the days when event organizers would even delay a show if the photographer was running late,” says Balachandra Raju,a photographer of Sathyam studio,a still surviving photo studio in India’s southern city of Chennai.

Photo studios are facing extinction in the digital age.But as they struggle to continue doing the business,one research project is looking at ways to preserve their legacy(遗产) by digitizing archival(档案的) pictures.

The project,funded by the British Library,visited around 100 photo studios across the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu and digitized 10,000 prints.Many of the photos were taken between 1880-1980,and they ranged from pictures of families and famous stars to weddings and funerals.“The digital archive will be useful for those interested in history,” Said Zoe E Headley,one of the researchers.Ramesh Kumar,another researcher on the project,called it a “gold mine” for photographers.“The research we’ve done also highlights production techniques used before digital photography arrived in our cities and towns,” he said.

However, the researchers would often find old photos piled on top of one another in the storage room of a studio.“No one had bothered to clean them,” Kumar said,adding that many photos had been damaged due to the hot and wet weather in Tamil Nadu.

The owner of Nallapillai studio in central Tamil Nadu said he spends about 20,000 rupees (￡230;$310) each month to run the studio that was founded by his great grandfather almost 150 years ago.To survive in this digital age has been a struggle.“Many customers don’t book us for special events anymore,” he said,adding that they had all got smartphones to do the job.“I’m not sure if photo studios will exist five years from now,” he said.But this is why,according to Mr Raju,this archival project is so important.

1. What’s the main function of the research project?

A．Protect the legacy of photo studios.

B．Speed up the extinction of photo studios.

C．Search for better ways of taking photos.

D．Visit all the photo studios across the India.

2. Which shows the effect of the project?

A．Photo studios can attract many visitors.

B．Photographers can have a good working place.

C．Photographers get to learn about old photography techniques.

D．Photo studios have the chance to take pictures of famous stars.

3. What has the researchers found?

A．Some photo studios are doing well.

B．Photo studios are booked for special events.

C．Some photo studios suffer from bad weather.

D．Photo studios give old pictures little protection.

4. What is Raju’s attitude towards the project?

A．Hopeful.	B．Negative.
C．Indifferent.	D．Dissatisfied.

5 . The way you learn most effectively will impact many different aspects of your life. Visual learners process information best when it’s presented with images drawn on a whiteboard, charts or graphs. Visual learners usually process pictures before they read printed text and are also able to visualize concepts quickly. People who are visual learners prefer when instructions are printed rather than given verbally (口头地), and may often write or draw when conceptualizing (构思、将……概念化) or attempting to make sense of a new topic. Many visual learners remember something better once they’ve written it down or drawn it out.

Auditory (听觉的) learners process information best when it’s said out loud, such as in a lecture setting or spoken presentation. These types of learners can easily recall what others say and prefer to talk through topics they find complex or difficult to understand. People who are auditory learners prefer verbal directions and may use repetition or repeat things aloud to memorize. They may ask questions to understand the subject matter better and may need to hear something repeated more than once before they fully comprehend. Auditory learners also often benefit from listening to recordings as a method of absorbing new concepts.

Kinesthetic (动觉的) learners process information through experience rather than by being shown or told. These types of learners prefer to do things that are more “hands-on.” They prefer to touch and feel items and can easily recall things they’ve done. People who are kinesthetic learners like to make and create things using their hands, and remember information best when they are physically involved. Kinesthetic learners like to participate in the process by shadowing or assisting, and prefer to practice or rehearse concepts as a way to absorb new information.

Take time to consider how you prefer to lake in new information. Think about the last time how you worked to ensure you retained the information? The answer to these questions will help you discover which learning styles work best for you.

1. What do visual learners do to form an idea in mind?

A．Visualize or read.

B．Process or present.

C．Recall or speak.

D．Write or draw.

2. Who can comprehend something repeated better?

A．Visual learners.

B．Auditory learners.

C．Kinesthetic learners.

D．Lifelong learners.

3. What does the underlined word “shadow” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Reflect perfectly.

B．Watch closely.

C．Memorize carefully.

D．Inquire constantly.

4. What is the purpose of the writer to explain learning styles?

A．To help readers explore learning styles.

B．To introduce effective learning methods.

C．To arouse readers’ curiosity about learning.

D．To inform a new scientific study about learning.

6 . Did you know that the United States has over 2,600 National Historic Landmarks? They serve as official markers of the country's, history by way of an event, person, time period, design or archeological finding and not just any old site will do. Here we’ve selected 4 with a story to tell and explore.

Birthplace of Helen Keller, Alabama

Ivy Green is a historic museum that honors Helen Keller, who was born here in 1880. Keller learned sign language and Braille and became the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor's degree. Keller was an advocate of blind rights and wrote 12 books, including her autobiography The Story of My Life.

Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, Georgia

Built in 1891, this plant served as the headquarters and bottling plant for the soda giant as it grew from soda shop to a manufactured brand. In 1966, Coca-Cola moved into something larger. Currently, it functions as part of Georgia State University’s campus.

Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.

Where is the largest library in the world? This is it. America t s Library of Congress is the oldest federal cultural institution. It' s also the current research library for the US Senate and is where US Patent and Trademark Office lies. Both real-life and virtual tours of this amazing space are available.

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City

Completed in 1883, Brooklyn Bridge is a famous sight and it has a rich history too. Due to its lengthy span, New Yorkers’ fear was heightened after 12 people were killed on the bridge. Circus man P. T. Barnum paraded 21 elephants across the bridge to prove it was safe. It’s been a National Historic Landmark since 1964.

1. Where should you go if you want to know about the soda giant?

A．Birthplace of Helen Keller.

B．Brooklyn Bridge.

C．Coca-Cola Bottling Plant.

D．Library of Congress.

2. What can we know about the Library of Congress?

A．It is the oldest cultural organization.

B．It is where Americans do the current research.

C．It can be visited only in person.

D．It is where Americans apply for a patent and trademark.

3. What is the purpose of writing the text?

A．To explore landmarks.

B．To introduce scenery.

C．To attract visitors.

D．To educate readers.

7 . Futurologists(未来学家)predict that life will probably be very different in 2050 in all the fields of activity，from entertainment to technology.First of all，it seems that TV channels will have disappeared by 2050.Instead，people will choose a programme from a “menu”(菜单)and a computer will send the programme directly to the television.Today，we can use the World Wide Web to read newspaper stories and see pictures on a computer thousands of kilometres away.By 2050，music，films，programmes，newspapers and books will come to us by computer.We will also be able to see，smell and touch the things that we see on television.

In transport，cars will run on new，clean “gas” and they will go very fast.Cars will have computers to control the speed of the car and there won't be any accidents.Today，many cars have computers that tell drivers exactly where they are.By 2050，the computer will control the car and drive it to where you want to go.Space planes will fly all over the world and people will fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo in just two hours.

In technology，robots will have replaced people in factories.Many factories already use robots.Big companies prefer robots — they do not ask for pay rises or go on strike，and they work 24 hours a day.By 2050，we will see robots everywhere — in factories，schools，offices，hospitals，shops and homes.

Last but not least，medicine technology will have conquered many diseases.By 2050，we will be able to help blind and deaf people see again and hear again.Scientists will be able to produce clones of people and decide how they look，how they behave and how much intelligence they have.

1. What is NOT true about television by 2050 according to this passage?

A．One will be able to smell the food on television.

B．One can have a try of the food he or she sees on television.

C．There will be no channels for us to choose programmes.

D．Televisions will be completely controlled by computers.

2. What can be the development of transport that benefits people most by 2050?

A．Cars will go at a very high speed on their own.

B．Space planes will fly all over the world in a short time.

C．There will be less pollution and no car accidents.

D．Computers will tell people where they are going.

3. It can be implied in the passage that by 2050         ．

A．people will live more healthily and longer

B．computers will control the speed of cars

C．people can read newspapers through a computer

D．there will be no people working in factories

4. What is the author's attitude towards people's life in future?

A．Doubtful.	B．Sad.
C．Happy.	D．Worried.

8 . An extreme sport is a popular term for certain activities regarded as having a high level of danger. These activities often involve speed, height, and a high level of physical effort. In the past, young athletes would play baseball. Today，they want risk and excitement — the closer to the edge, the better. They snowboard over cliffs and mountains, or bike down steep mountains.

Extreme sports started as an alternative to more expensive sports such as golf. A city kid who couldn’t afford expensive sports equipment could get a skateboard and have fun, but now it has become a whole new area of sports, with specialized equipment and high levels of skill. There is even an Olympics for extreme sports, called the winter X­game, which includes snow boarding. mountainbiking and ice climbing.

What makes extreme sports so popular? People love the risk. City people want to be outdoors on the weekend and do something challenging. The new equipment is so much better that people can take more risks without getting hurt. Sure there’s a risk. Once you go mountain biking or snowboarding, it’s impossible to go back to bike riding or skiing. It’s just too boring.

Now even the older crowd is staring to join in. Every weekend, groups of friends in their early 30s get together. On weekdays they work as computer programmers in the same office. On weekends they rent mountains together.

Extreme sports are certainly not for everyone. Most people still prefer to play basketball or watch sports on TV. But it has been a fact that, extreme sports are gaining in popularity.

Nowadays more and more young athletes are taking part in the risky activities.

1. All the following sports are X­sports EXCEPT _________.

A．ice climbing.	B．snow boarding.
C．skiing.	D．mountain­biking.

2. Which of the following is NOT the characteristic of extreme sport?

A．Risky.	B．Challenging.
C．Exciting.	D．Unskilled.

3. The underlined word “alternative” in Paragraph 2 more probably means “________”.

A．replacement.	B．activity.
C．equipment.	D．competition.

4. From the passage, we can learn that ________.

A．all young people like extreme sports.

B．playing basketball is still a popular game.

C．people prefer extreme sports to traditional sports.

D．bike riding and skiing are boring sports.

9 . My father was 44 and knew he wasn’t going to make it to 45.He wrote me a letter and hoped that something in it would help me for the rest of my life.

Since the day I was 12 and first read his letter, some of his words have lived in my heart. One part always stands out. “Right now, you are pretending to be a time­killer. But I know that one day, you will do something great that will set you among the very best.” Knowing that my dad believed in me gave me permission to believe in myself. “You will do something great.” He didn’t know what that would be, and neither did I, but at times in my life when I’ve felt proud of myself. I remember his words and wish he were here so I could ask, “Is this what you were talking about, Dad? Should I keep going？”

A long way from 12 now, I realize he would have been proud when I made any progress. Lately, though, I’ve come to believe he’d want me to move on to what comes next: to be proud of, and believe in somebody else. It’s time to start writing my own letters to my children. Our children look to us with the same unanswered question we had. Our kids don’t hold back because they’re afraid to fail. They’re only afraid of failing us. They don’t worry about being disappointed. Their fear－as mine was until my father’s letter－is of being a disappointment. Give your children permission to succeed. They’re waiting for you to believe in them.

I always knew my parents loved me. But trust me: That belief will be more complete, that love will be more real, and their belief in themselves will be greater if you write the words on their hearts:“Don’t worry; you’ll do something great.” Not having that blessing from their parents may be the only thing holding them back.

1. We learn from the text that the author ________.

A．lost his father when he was young.

B．worked hard before he read his father’s letter.

C．asked his father’s permission to believe in himself.

D．knew exactly what great thing his father wanted him to do.

2. What does the author tell us in the 3rd paragraph?

A．Children need their parents’ letters.

B．Children are afraid to be disappointed.

C．His children’s fear of failure held them back.

D．His father’s letter removed his fear of failing his parents.

3. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．He got no access to success.

B．He wrote back to his father at 12.

C．He was sure his parents loved him.

D．He once asked his father about the letter.

10 . Yesterday night, over a dinner with my elder brother’s family, a topic of happiness came up. My wife, Marla, a psychologist, was sharing Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of “flow” with us. Marla explained that according to the research on flow, people are happiest when they are absorbed in a task that is just challenging enough for them to experience a sense of mastery.

A few moments later my brother, Yuri, offered the following opinions: “The first and only, necessary and sufficient factor for happiness is to stop associating happiness with pleasure. The two—happiness and pleasure—have nothing to do with each other. ”

This morning, with my cup of coffee, I searched through a pile of books on my bedside table and at the bottom found a book by Bertrand Russell, I started reading but didn’t finish. In it, I found the following thought:

“The human animal, like others, is adapted to a certain amount of struggle for life, and when he is satisfied with his whims without effort, the mere absence of effort from his life removes an essential ingredient of happiness.”

The conversation came full circle: people are happiest when they are in a state of flow (Csikszentmihalyi’s language), which is the effortful devotion in a moment, which has nothing to do with pleasure.

Indeed, as Yuri insisted: happiness-as-pleasure is a myth; the association between happiness and pleasure is nothing but a semantic habit; psychologically, the two—happiness and pleasure—are arguably different; and breaking up this association between pleasure and happiness might, in fact, be a powerfully first step in pursuit of happiness.

As I look back on the exchange, I recall that there was an effort, a struggle to find a common understanding about this seemingly difficult idea—a struggle that made me happy.

1. What is the purpose of writing this passage?

A．To tell readers how to be happiest.	B．To advise readers to read Bertrand Russell.
C．To look back on the happy night.	D．To show different opinions on family gathering.

2. According to Marla, people feel happiest when they ________.

A．get what they want without effort	B．involve themselves in a challenging task
C．master the happiest around them	D．experience things that can bring pleasure

3. What writing style is used by the author to explain happiness?

A．Giving examples.	B．Offering arguments.
C．Making comparisons.	D．Using quotes.