1 . On my first job as a sports editor for the Montpelier Leader Enterprise (MLE), I didn’t get a lot of fan mail, so my attention was caught by a letter on my desk one morning. The envelope bore the logo of the closest big-city paper, the Toledo Blade.
When I opened it, I read, “ Sweet piece of writing on the Tigers. Keep up the good work.”
It was signed by Don Wolfe, the sports editor. Because I was a teenager (being paid the grand total of 15 cents a column inch), his words could not have been more exciting. I kept the letter in my desk drawer until it got rag-eared. Whenever I doubted I had the right stuff to be a writer, I would reread Don’s note and walk on air again.
Later, when I got to know him, I learned that Don made a habit of writing a quick, encouraging word to people in all walks of life. “When I make others feel good about themselves,” he told me, “I feel good, too.”
Why are upbeat note writers in such short supply? My guess is that many who shy away from the practice are too self-conscious. They are afraid they will be misunderstood, sound old-fashioned or flattering. Also, writing takes time and it is far easier to pick up the phone. The drawback with phone calls, of course, is that they do not last. A note attaches more importance to our well-wishing. It is a matter of record, and our words can be read more than once, appreciated, and treasured.
What does it take to write notes that lift spirits and hearts? Perhaps just a desire and a willingness to express our appreciation. The most successful people write notes that are short on words and long on feeling, sincere, short, specific, and usually spontaneous (自发的) in nature.
It is difficult to be spontaneous, however, when you have to hunt for letter writing materials; so, keep paper, envelopes, and stamps close at hand, even when you travel. Fancy stationery (文具) is not necessary; it’s the thought that counts.
So, who around you deserves a note of thanks or approval? A neighbor, your librarian, a relative, your mate, a teacher, or your doctor? You do not need to be poetic. If you need a reason, look for a milestone, the anniversary of a special event you shared, a birthday, or holiday, and do not hold back your praise. Such words as “greatest” “smartest” “prettiest” make us all feel good. Even if your praises run a little ahead of reality, remember that expectations are often the parents of dreams fulfilled.
1. What kind of feeling did the author have after he read the letter from Don Wolfe？| A．Inspired. | B．Worry. | C．Shock. | D．Unhappy. |
| A．afraid of being out of date | B．too shy to flatter others |
| C．prepared to make phone calls | D．too concerned about what others think |
| A．praises often run ahead of reality | B．praises help in pursuing a dream |
| C．parents often write upbeat notes | D．parents expect children’s success |
| A．The Power of a Positive Note | B．Notes Help to Fulfill Dreams |
| C．The Necessity of Writing Notes | D．Note or Phone, Your Own Choice |
2 . Joint Statement from the IOC and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee
The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Abe Shinzo, held a conference call this morning to discuss the constantly changing environment with regard to COVID-19 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
President Bach and Prime Minister Abe expressed their shared concern about the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and what it is doing to people’s lives and the significant effect it is having on global athletes’ preparations for the Games.
In a very friendly and constructive meeting, the two leaders praised the work of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee and noted the great progress being made in Japan to fight against COVID-19.
The unprecedented and unpredictable spread of the outbreak has seen the situation in the rest of the world worsening. Yesterday, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating. There are more than 375,000 cases now recorded worldwide and in nearly every country, and their number is growing by the hour.
In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.
The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon (灯塔) of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present. Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
1. What is the purpose of the conference call between the President of IOC and the Prime Minister of Japan?| A．To talk about the ways of dealing with the spread of COVID-19. |
| B．To talk about the effect of COVID-19 on people’s lives around the world. |
| C．To praise Japan for the great progress they made to fight against COVID-19. |
| D．To talk about the situation of COVID-19 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. |
| A．Slowing down. | B．Developing fast. |
| C．Spreading gradually. | D．Causing concern. |
| A．COVID-19 has a great effect on the athletes’ preparations for the Games. |
| B．The situation caused by COVID-19 is worsening in many countries around the world. |
| C．The Tokyo Olympic Games will be rescheduled to a date not later than summer 2021. |
| D．The Games to be held in Tokyo will be named the Olympic Tokyo 2021. |
| A．The Tokyo Olympic Games is put off only to protect the health of the athletes. |
| B．The world will see hope of pulling through brought by the Tokyo Olympic Games. |
| C．The Olympic flame will be used as a light at the end of a tunnel of Tokyo. |
| D．Both the Olympic Games Tokyo and Paralympic Games Tokyo will not be held in 2020. |
3 . ★Kidding Around Kindergarten Early Childhood Teacher - Sydney
We are looking to employ a motivated and enthusiastic Early Childhood Teacher full-time.
Essential: New graduates welcome, appropriate Early Childhood qualifications
Interests and devotion in working with children
Good interpersonal and communication skills
Forward resume (简历) to: kiddingaroundkindy@bigpond.com
PH: 0400-626-897
★Children’s Services Child Care Worker
A permanent part-time position is available at Ku Killara Pre-school, Killara to work Thursday and Friday 7.6 hours per day. Salary within the range $16.5203 per hour to $17.0818 per hour, depending upon qualifications and experience.
Make your career at a place that’s about growing, learning and developing, go to www.ku.com.au
For more detailed information, call 0401-438-487
★Receptionist Required!
Working for a professional company in the CBD Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
Providing quality, professional and polite service to all clients and customers
Dealing with faxes and mail
No experience required
General ad hoc (临时的，专门的) duties as required
To apply online, please contact Gemma Barber on gemma.barber@gemteq.com.au, quoting the Job Title.
★Ku-ring-gai Council Gordon, NSW Library Assistant - Gordon
Salary: $38,175 - $44,283 p/a
7 day rostering (工作时间轮翻) system - some evening and weekend work may be required
Class C driver Licence and experience required
Council is seeking an enthusiastic person for the position of Library Assistant. You will assist the Gordon Branch Librarian in providing efficient and effective library services to the general public and Council staff as required. The position requires effective communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, and alphabetical (字母), literacy (读写) and numerical (数字的) abilities.
Further application details on our website www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/jobs
Contact: Margaret Phillis, Sydney, NSW Australia
Ph: 9424 0910
1. Who do you suppose would be most probably interested in the above information?| A．Full-time students. | B．Advertisers. |
| C．Job hunters. | D．Employers. |
| A．Early Childhood Teacher. | B．Child Care Worker. |
| C．Receptionist. | D．Library Assistant. |
| A．contact Gemma Barber | B．call 0400-626-897 |
| C．call 0401-438-487 | D．contact Margaret Phillis |
4 . When I was in senior high school, I was greatly fond of playing volleyball and thus signed up for the school team whose coach was Mr. Forest. At that time, being skinny was a fashion for all teenage girls. I also had such a dream. Besides training as hard as possible, I reduced my eating amount to an awful degree. Soon I began losing weight, which thrilled me, and I even grew to love the tiredness and light-headedness that came with my poor diet, for those feelings meant that I was winning.
As the season progressed, things became bad between Coach Forest and me. He felt that something was wrong with my health. He talked with me about my eating and was angry that I wouldn’t listen to him when he tried to make me eat. He tried to persuade me in a determined way and so we fought constantly. Then my hunger started to affect my performance. I was so tired that practice and games were becoming a struggle. One afternoon, with deep hurt in his eyes, Coach Forest asked me what I had eaten and I told him nothing at all. He looked at me, disappointment in his eyes, and walked away.
A couple of weeks later I attended a formal dinner for our volleyball team. I stood there as my coach managed to say something nice about me. Then I realized that I had ruined my senior year by being disrespectful, and I had probably ruined his mood as well. So that evening I wrote him a letter, making a sincere apology and thanking him.
Then one Saturday, as I was in the library, someone gently patted my arm and said softly, “Linda Walter, how are you doing?” I looked up and saw the familiar face. “Thanks for the letter,” he said. “It meant a lot.” When I think of a coach, I think of someone above me, someone who gives instruction, but not a friend. But Coach Forest is different, and, like any other good friend, he dealt with my problem in a determined way even when I hated him for it at that time. I didn’t deserve his kindness, but he selflessly gave it regardless of my terrible attitude. I will forever be grateful for his help, and for his unexpected friendship.
1. When the author ate a poor diet and had a sense of tiredness, how did she feel?| A．Anxious. | B．Nervous. | C．Ashamed. | D．Very excited. |
| A．She didn’t quit her idea. | B．She followed his advice. |
| C．She left the volleyball team. | D．She apologized to him. |
| A．She felt sorry for eating too little food. |
| B．She decided to improve her performance. |
| C．She felt sorry for her being disrespectful and was grateful for Forest’s care. |
| D．She wanted to build a closer relationship with Forest. |
| A．My Apology to My Coach | B．Unexpected Friendship |
| C．A Strict Volleyball Coach | D．A Fight Between My Coach and Me |
5 . Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance. The purpose is to let children learn from experience at an age when financial mistakes are not very costly.
The amount of money that parents give to their children to spend as they wish differs from family to family. Timing is another consideration. Some children get a weekly allowance. Others get a monthly allowance.
In any case, parents should make clear what, if anything, the child is expected to pay for with the money.
At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget. Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance.
The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Older children may be responsible enough to save money for larger costs, like clothing or electronics.
Many people who have written on the subject of allowances say it is not a good idea to pay your child for work around the home. These jobs are a normal part of family life.
Paying children to do extra work around the house, however, can be useful. It can even provide an understanding of how a business works.
Allowances give children a chance to experience the three things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving it to a good cause. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save it.
1. What is special about children learning financial management by experience?| A．They learn more quickly. |
| B．They are not as likely to make mistakes. |
| C．Their mistakes won't matter so much. |
| D．They have plans made by their parents. |
| A．they will know how hard it is to learn budget |
| B．they will have an easy time learning the lesson |
| C．what they will learn is absolutely true |
| D．their parents will teach them a hard lesson |
| A．regularly twice every month |
| B．whenever he has run out of money |
| C．telling him to ask for permission before spending |
| D．without telling him what to spend on |
| A．borrow money from others | B．ask their parents for more money |
| C．get paid for their household routines | D．earn money by extra work |
6 . This was the first real task I received in my new school. It seemed simple: go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington. As I searched the name, I found that there were two famous people having the same name who looked completely different! One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts(花生), while the other led some sort of army across America. I stared at the screen, wondering which one my teacher meant. I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice; let the coin decide. I flipped(掷) a coin and Ah! Tails (背面)! My report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter, George Washington Carver.
Weeks later, I stood in front of the classroom and proudly read my homework. But things started to get strange. I looked around the room, only to find my classmates with big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes and my stone-faced teacher. I was completely lost. “What could be causing everyone to act this way?”
Oh well, I dropped the paper and sat down at my desk, burning to find out what I had done wrong. As a classmate began his report, it all became clear, “My report is on George Washington, the man who started the American War of Independence.” The whole world became quiet! How could I know that my teacher meant that George Washington?
Of course, my subject result was awful. Sad but fearless, I decided to turn this around. I talked to the headmaster Miss Lancelot, but she said firmly: No re-dos; no new score. I felt that it was not fair, and I believed I deserved a second chance. So I threw myself heartily into my work for the rest of the school year. Ten months later, I sat in the headmaster’s office again, but this time a completely different conversation. I smiled and flashed back to the terrible moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster told me I was good enough to skip(跳过) the 6th grade and started the 7th grade next term.
1. The task I received was to find information about ________.| A．uses for peanuts |
| B．American War of Independence |
| C．George Washington |
| D．my headmaster Miss Lancelot |
| A．I was too proud of my homework |
| B．I mistook what the homework was about |
| C．the whole world suddenly became quiet |
| D．the teacher’s face turned to a stone |
| A．the headmaster didn’t like the writer at all |
| B．the writer’s classmates felt sad at his mistake |
| C．the writer knew little about American history |
| D．the writer’s grandpa was a very wise man |
| A．Seeing is believing. |
| B．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| C．One is never too old to learn. |
| D．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
7 . CHRONOLOGICA
——The Unbelievable Years that Defined History
DID YOU KNOW...
◆In 105 AD paper was invented in China?
◆When Columbus discovered the New World?
◆The British Museum opened in 1759?
CHRONOLOGICA is a fascinating journey through time, from the foundation of Rome to the creation of the Internet. Along the way are tales of kings and queens, hot air balloons…and monkeys in space.
Travel through 100 of the most unbelievable years in world history and learn why being a Roman Emperor wasn’t always as good as it sounds, how the Hundred Years’ War didn’t actually last for 100 years and why Spencer Perceval holds a rather unfortunate record.
CHRONOLOGICA is an informative and entertaining tour into history, beautifully illustrated and full of unbelievable facts. While CHRONOLOGICA tells the stories of famous people in history such as Thomas Edison and Alexander the Great, this book also gives an account of the lives of lesser-known individuals including the explorer Mungo Park and sculptor Gutzon Borglum.
This complete but brief historical collection is certain to entertain readers young and old, and guaranteed to present even the biggest history lover with something new!
1. What is CHRONOLOGICA according to the next?| A．A biography. | B．A travel guide. | C．A history book. | D．A science fiction. |
| A．By introducing some of its contents. |
| B．By giving details of its collection. |
| C．By telling stories at the beginning. |
| D．By comparing it with other books. |
| A．People who want to take a fascinating journey. |
| B．People who want to be updated with all the information throughout the history. |
| C．People who are much interested in history. |
| D．People who simply want to read to kill the time. |
8 . Plastic remains one of the most-used materials for making many of the things we use in our everyday lives. Things made of plastic can be very strong and last a long time. They also do well in extreme heat and cold. Plastic is also much lighter than metal and can be easily formed into different shapes. This makes the material perfect for the uses across many different industries
But the widespread use of plastics is causing major problems for the environment. Plastic materials are causing serious damage to the world’s oceans.
Plastics can take hundreds of years to break down on their own. Very few kinds are highly recyclable. This is because of the way plastics are formed. Even when recycling is possible, the process is costly and can use a lot of energy.
But a team of researchers working at the U.S. Department of Energy say they have created a kind of plastic that could lead to products that are 100 percent recyclable.
The researchers say the new material is a plastic polymer(聚合物)called polydiketoenamine, or PDK. The team reports that the material can be broken down in parts at the molecular(分子的) level. It can then be built up again to form plastics of different shapes, colors and more. The researchers say this process can be repeated over and over again -without the plastic material losing any performance or quality.
“Most plastics were never made to be recycled,” lead researcher Peter Christensen said. “But we have discovered a new way to make plastics that takes recycling into consideration from a molecular point of view. Then we would be able to remove plastics from the oceans. It’s going to be a really exciting time.”
1. What's the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To show the advantages of plastic |
| B．To explore the future of plastic |
| C．To prove we can’t live without plastic |
| D．To introduce different plastic products |
| A．What they are used for | B．How they are formed. |
| C．The deep ocean | D．The high cost |
| A．It can be used repeatedly. |
| B．It can hardly be broken down. |
| C．It is a colorful plastic polymer. |
| D．It is used in some countries now. |
| A．Plastic and industry. |
| B．Pollution and environment. |
| C．Plastic: a most-used material. |
| D．PDK: a new recyclable plastic. |
9 . The University of Adelaide employs a full-time staff of fire prevention professionals. They inspect all campus buildings and maintain all sprinkler systems, fire alarms and fire extinguishers. They also provide educational programs on fire safety in the residence hall. Whenever you move to a new area, you should locate the fire alarm pull stations and the two exits nearest your room.
Fire Alarms
The floors of all campus buildings are equipped with manual fire alarm systems which include fire alarm pull stations and pipes. Most are also equipped with automatic fire alarm systems consisting of heat detectors, smoke detectors and sprinklers. For your safety, never toy with these systems. False fire alarms are illegal and may lead to imprisonment.
Fire Drills
A fire drill will be conducted in your residence hall every semester. During a fire drill, please do the following:
·Take your room key and ID. Close and lock the door to your room.
·Exit immediately from the nearest emergency exit and do not use a lift.
·Meet outside of your residence hall and wait for further instructions.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are located on each floor and in each apartment. Use a fire extinguisher only if you have been trained to do so. Irresponsible use of a fire extinguisher can create a dangerous situation for other residents and could result in damage to personal property. Misuse of a fire extinguisher will result in fines.
Smoke Detector
A smoke detector is on the ceiling in your room. Some buildings also have heat detectors on the ceilings. Do the following to ensure the safe operation of your smoke detector:
· If your smoke detector is working properly, the red light should be on. If the red light is not blinking, contact residence hall staff immediately.
·Do not cover or block your smoke detector in any way. If a smoke detector sets off an alarm and there is no fire or smoke, inform your hall staff.
1. What is the main duty of the fire prevention professionals?| A．To provide part-time jobs for students. |
| B．To lead the students to the nearest exits. |
| C．To check and maintain fire prevention equipment. |
| D．To train teachers to be fire prevention professionals. |
| A．rush quickly to a lift |
| B．gather at the nearest exit |
| C．shut the door and leave at once |
| D．wait for instructions in the hall |
| A．contact the hall staff regularly |
| B．cover the things that burn easily |
| C．start the smoke detector in a fire |
| D．make certain the red light is working |
10 . Step into Moving to Mars, an exhibition of Mars mission and colony design at London's Design Museum, and immediately you have good reasons not to move there.
Frightening texts on the walls announce that Mars wasn't made for you; that there is no life and precious little water; that, dressed in a spacesuit, you will never touch, taste or smell the planet you now call “home”. As Lisa Grossman wrote for New Scientist a couple of years ago, “What's different about Mars is that there is nothing to do there except try not to die.”
It is an odd beginning for such a celebratory exhibition, but it provides a valuable, dark background against which the rest of the show can sparkle (闪耀)—a show that is, as its chief manager Justin McGuirk remarks, “not about Mars; this is an exhibition about people”.
Moving along, there is a quick yet clear flash through what the science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson calls “the history of Mars in the human mind”. A Babylonian clay tablet and a Greek vase speak of early ideas about the planet. A poster for the original Total Recall film reminds us of Mars's psychological threat.
The main part of the show is our current plans for the Red Planet. There are real spacesuits and models of 3Dprinted Martian settlements and suitable clothing and furniture. Mission architecture and engineering sketches line the walls. Real hammers meant for the International Space Station are wallmounted (固定在墙上的) beside a lowgravity table that has yet to leave and may indeed never leave Earth.
This, of course, is the great strength of approaching science through design: reality and assumptions can be given equal visual weight, drawing us into an informed conversation about what it is that we actually want from a future on Mars.
1. What is the text mainly about?| A．How to move to Mars. |
| B．How to survive on Mars. |
| C．What preparations we made for Mars. |
| D．What the exhibition of Mars truly tells us. |
| A．It's impractical to live on Mars. |
| B．It's no good settling on Mars. |
| C．You have nothing to do when living on Mars. |
| D．You can live on Mars in a spacesuit. |
| A．The current plans for Mars. |
| B．The advantages of living on Mars. |
| C．The early ideas about Mars. |
| D．The history of Mars in the human mind. |
| A．A story. | B．An opinion. |
| C．A fantasy. | D．A solution. |
