1 . Friendship is an important part of human life. Friends can share our joys and sadnesses. We aren't alone. Many different animals also make friends.
Recently, a British research team finished an eight-year study of Indo-Pacific dolphins off the coast of Western Australia. These dolphins can use different tools to search for food. The researchers found that these dolphins are more willing to hang out with partners that like the same tool. Other factors, like family closeness or sex, have no impact on this relationship. It suggests that dolphins form social bonds based on shared interests.
Apart from dolphins, elephants and horses are also known to form friendships. Are friendships only limited to the same species?
Of course not, The Atlantic reported. In 2015,Timur, a goat, was left in the enclosure（围场） of a tiger, Amur, as a meal. But instead of eating Timur, Amur liked to play with him and got angry when others were close to his friend. That's because in captivity(圈养）, animals don't need to spend much time and energy marking their land or looking for mates the way they would in the wild. They are actually more likely to feel bored.
More interestingly, animals not only make friends but also try to keep lasting friendships. Take bats for example. In 2011, scientists found bats often hang out with a few particular friends, keeping loose ties to the rest of their group. Humans are different. "We do not work, play and live together with the same friends all the time," Swiss zoologist Gerald Kerth explained. "But nevertheless, we are able to maintain long-term despite our often highly dynamic（充满活力的）social lives."
1. What do dolphins pay more attention to when making friends?| A．The same interests. | B．Family closeness. |
| C．Hunting behavior. | D．The special sounds. |
| A．Amur wants to show Timur his land. |
| B．Amur longs for animals to play with him. |
| C．Amur has more friends than other tigers. |
| D．Amur pretends to be friendly to eat Timur. |
| A．Bats usually play with certain friends. |
| B．Humans keep their friendship longer. |
| C．Bats like to live together with friends. |
| D．Humans make friends in social activities. |
| A．By listing data. | B．By taking examples. |
| C．By asking questions. | D．By giving advice. |
2 . Organic food is very popular. It is also expensive. Some organic food costs twice as much as nonorganic food. Some parents and pet owners pay up to 200 percent more for organic food while some people think organic food is a waste of money.
There is one main difference between organic and non-organic food. Organic farms do not use agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides (杀虫剂). This makes sure that the products are natural.
Some people think “organic” means “locally grown”. At the beginning, this was true. Over time organic farming became more difficult. The demand for organic food grew larger than the supply. Small companies had to sell out to large companies. There weren’t enough organic materials. This made it difficult for many organic companies to stay in business. Today, many large companies have an organic line of products.
Is organic food more nutritious? This is part of the debate. Many farmers and consumers believe it is. They think agricultural chemicals cause health problems, such as cancer. Many health experts disagree. Few studies prove that organic food prevents health problems. Health experts worry more about bacteria. These can come into contact with organic and non-organic food. Doctors recommend washing produce very carefully.
Most people agree that naturally grown food tastes better. Is tastier food worth the extra money? This is a matter of opinion. Whether it is healthier or not may require more research. However, organic consumers argue it is better to be safe than sorry.
1. Which is the NOT the advantage of organic food for most people?| A．safe. | B．cheap. | C．healthy. | D．tasty. |
| A．Reduce the use of pesticides． | B．Wash the food very carefully． |
| C．Grow organic food on your own. | D．Buy large companies’ products． |
| A．It is more nutritious. | B．It tastes better． |
| C．It contains more fat． | D．It has more bacteria． |
| A．A chemistry paper． | B．A restaurant menu. |
| C．An advertisement． | D．A health magazine. |
3 . I was a newcomer in a class. So was Alice. That's where the similarities ended. I was tall and she was small. My thick, black hair had been recently cut short. Her natural blonde hair flowed to her waist and looked great. I was awkward and shy. She wasn't. I couldn't stand her. I considered her my enemy. She liked me. She wanted to be friends.
One day, she invited me over and I said yes — I was too shocked to answer any other way. No one had invited me over to play. But this girl who wore the latest fashions wanted me to go home with her after school. I got very surprised when she led me into an apartment building. She lived on the fourth floor in a two-room place with her mother, her stepfather, her two brothers and her sister. When we got to the room she shared with her sister, she took out a big case of Barbies — which was my next surprise. I would have thought she'd outgrown them. I had never played with them. But we sat on the floor of a walk-in closet, laughing as we made up crazy stories about the Barbies. That's when we found out that we both wanted to be writers when we were older and we both had wild imaginations. We had a great day that afternoon. Our jaws ached from smiling so much. She showed me her wardrobe, which had mostly come from a designer clothing store down the block. The woman who owned it used her as a model sometimes for her newspaper ads and gave her clothes in exchange.
Alice had the whole neighborhood charmed. The bookstore owners lent her fashion magazines, the movie theater gave her free passes and the pizza place let her have free slices. Soon I was included in her magic world. We slept over at each other's houses, and spent every free moment together. My dark hair grew out and I learned to love being tall.
Alice, my first real friend since childhood, taught me an amazing and very surprising thing about making friends: that your worst enemy can turn out to be your best friend.
1. What made the similarities end?| A．Leaving the author's old school. |
| B．Being admitted to their new classes. |
| C．Their differences in appearance and personalities. |
| D．Their different demands of friendship and fashion. |
| A．Alice was too mature for them. |
| B．Alice must have made them by herself. |
| C．They should have been kept well. |
| D．They brought her back to her childhood. |
| A．helped the author see her own strengths |
| B．was good with the people around her |
| C．helped to bring out the best in the author |
| D．inspired the authors love for fashion |
| A．Humorous. | B．Ambitious. |
| C．Caring. | D．Friendly. |
4 . If you are fond of learning languages, you must start learning Chinese. English is the most widely spoken language in the world and it is a more powerful language in all fields. But it is expected that Chinese, which is one of the six official languages of the United Nations (UN), will be the most important language in the coming years. What are the reasons behind the rapid spread of this language and why should you learn it?
My desire to learn languages was the reason why I studied many Latin languages and in the process, I deepened my knowledge of the languages and literature. However, I did not feel self-sufficient ( 自 给 自 足 的 ) from this knowledge. I gained a lot of information about the Western world. But my thinking was always about Asian civilizations. I always felt I needed to learn Chinese to be a global citizen (全球公民) because “without learning Chinese, we see with one eye”.
My contact with many international organizations and government institutions ( 机构 ) made me believe that Chinese is one of the most important languages of our time. After visiting the world’s most celebrated capitals such as Paris and London, I discovered that Chinese language can be seen everywhere in these places. In the subway in Paris, you will hear instructions in French, English and Chinese. In London, for example, the Chinese language was introduced for instruction in schools.
China is an important political (政治的) and economic country because it is making great economic progress that has never been seen before. The world is watching China with great surprise, and this peaceful Chinese rise makes us decide to focus on learning the Chinese language and knowing more about Chinese culture.
To be a global citizen these days, I would advise you to learn Chinese. It will add more beauty to your life and allow you to better understand Chinese civilization.
1. What can we learn about languages in the future according to the first paragraph?| A．Some of them will disappear. |
| B．More official languages will be added to the UN. |
| C．English will still have an advantage over others. |
| D．Chinese language will probably be second to none. |
| A．Paris is a wonderful capital city worth a visit. |
| B．Chinese learning is very popular in schools in London. |
| C．People in some western countries like speaking Chinese. |
| D．Chinese language is playing an important role in the world. |
| A．The rise of Chinese economy. |
| B．Their love for language learning. |
| C．Their curiosity about Asian culture. |
| D．The long history of Chinese civilization. |
| A．How to be a global citizen |
| B．Chinese — the language you must learn |
| C．What you should know about Chinese culture |
| D．Chinese economy—the most powerful engine |
5 . What is a hero? We may think of the fictional characters with supernatural powers or great people who can influence world events. Now, as the nation continues its all-out efforts to fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19), medical staff have become heroes in the eyes of the public.
As of Feb 19, a total of 32,000 medical staff outside Hubei province have been working to treat patients around the center of the outbreak.
Zhang Dingyu, the president of Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, is one of these heroes. Since the hospital received the first seven patients in December, Zhang has been so busy that he barely gets any sleep. Even suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (肌萎缩侧索硬化), the 56-year-old doctor is doing his best to quicken his pace to save precious time for infected patients. “I have to run, racing against time to save more patients from the deadly disease, because I don’t have much time left in my life,” Zhang told Xinhua News Agency.
With the duty of saving lives, many medical professionals like Zhang have been working long hours for days, despite their fear and worries.
Lu Jingjing from Wuhan Children’s Hospital also works at a temporary mobile hospital. She does not let her parents know that she is now working with novel coronavirus-infected patients.
When her parents ask for a video chat, Lu says she is working and lets her husband and children chat with them instead.
“It’s dangerous but we should win the battle with the virus as soon as possible, so that medical staff and patients can go back home,” she told China Daily.
US writer Khalil Gibran (1883-1931) once wrote, “Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but the manifestations of strength and resolution.” It’s true for the medical workers.
Everyone has fear, especially when it comes to deadly diseases. But for medical staff, saving lives comes first and is enough for them to be brave and stay on the front. They may look like ordinary people in daily life, but in these extraordinary times, they are heroes.
1. What is the author’s main purpose in writing this article?| A．To explain what makes a modern-day hero. |
| B．To praise medical staff for their efforts to fight the NCP. |
| C．To describe what measures China has taken to deal with the virus. |
| D．To show the difficulties faced by medical staff treating NCP patients. |
| A．His illness has turned him into an impatient man. |
| B．His illness makes him work without fear. |
| C．He feels sorry for himself because of his illness. |
| D．He wants to help as many patients as possible. |
| A．She is too busy and has no time for video chats. |
| B．She doesn’t want her parents to worry about her. |
| C．It’s not allowed to make a video call from the hospital. |
| D．There is no WiFi signal at the temporary mobile hospital. |
| A．results | B．differences |
| C．indications | D．advantages |
6 . Babysitter Wanted
I am seeking a babysitter for my 6-month-old son. A few hours on Saturdays and Sundays to help me and then other times as needed. He or she should be over 18, responsible, loving, warm, and have some experience in caring for babies. This position also suits a college student with experience looking for a part-time job. The pay is﹩10 an hour.
If this sounds like a good job to you, please reply to rebecharv@aol.com or call 800-4964.
Office Manager Wanted
Our company is looking for a full-time experienced manager to run the business. Strong skills in organization and business management are required for this position. The office manager will be responsible for keeping financial (财务的) records, so he or she should be familiar with computers.
Please reply to jim@californiaaquatics.com or call 800-6978 to apply.
Waiter/Waitress Wanted
A restaurant is looking for an experienced waiter/waitress. Knowledge of wines and experience in dining are necessary. Must work well under pressure and understand the basics of fine dining and customer service.
If you're interested, please contact us at job-tkupe-1329358152@craigslist.org to apply.
This is apart-time job.
Office Cleaner Wanted
Looking for a Part-time job? A position in the Mississauga area needs an office cleaner! Part-time 4 hours a day from 10:00 am — 2:00 pm.
Duties include：
●Cleaning the washrooms
●Cleaning the furniture
●Sweeping the floors
●Other general cleaning experience is necessary. Pay:﹩15 per hour
Reply to: job-p3b7u-1365632206@craigslist.org or call 800-8197.
1. Which of the following position is a full-time job? ______| A．Office manager. | B．Babysitter. |
| C．Waiter/waitress. | D．Office cleaner. |
| A．job-p3b7u-1365632206@craigslist.org |
| B．job-tkupe-1329358152@craigslist.org |
| C．rebecharv@aol.com |
| D．jim@californiaaquatics.com |
| A．The office cleaner has to work three hours each day. |
| B．Experience is necessary for all these four jobs. |
| C．A babysitter earns﹩5 more than an office cleaner per hour. |
| D．One can apply for a waiter or waitress by telephone. |
7 . Superheroes first caught our attention in the 1930s when Superman and Batman appeared in American comic books, and we’ve been crazy about them ever since. But have you ever stopped to think whether the superman really exists(存在)?
Wim discovered his super power one day after saving a man from a frozen lake. Since then, he’s puzzled scientists with his super ability to bear the freezing temperature. Using breathing skills and a strong mental focus, he’s learned to control his body temperature. For his 2011 Guinness World Record he stayed in ice for nearly two hours. He’s also climbed to Mount Everest in just his shorts and run a desert marathon(马拉松赛跑)without a drop of water.
In the real world, there’re some blind people who can use echo-location skills to see the world around them, just like bats. By making noises with their mouths or by snapping their fingers, they can interpret(领会)the sound waves made back by nearby objects. Daniel, who lost his sight because of cancer as a baby, has taught himself the skills and shared his knowledge with hundreds of blind people worldwide. This has enabled them to run, hike, play football and go skateboarding, etc.
Dean can run forever. He regularly pushes his mind and body to the limits-running non-stop without sleep for 350 miles or completing 50 marathons in 50 days. He’s also run 135 miles non-stop across Death Valley around 49℃ and to the South Pole, where temperatures fell to -40℃.
Alain is one of the best rock climbers worldwide. Some of his tallest climbs include the Sydney Tower and the Eiffel Tower. Unbelievably strong both mentally and physically, Alain is famous for his free solo climbing, climbing tall buildings without ropes—just with his arms, legs and a bag of chalks.
Some of the above people are self-taught and have gained their skills with years of training. Others are born with unusual physical characters, leaving scientists confused. One thing is for sure—the superman certainly exists.
1. According to Paragraph 2, Wim is able to ______.| A．stand the very low temperature |
| B．focus his thoughts on a frozen lake |
| C．change his body temperature |
| D．stay in ice for nearly a whole day |
| A．understand what others are thinking |
| B．make less noises than others |
| C．live a happier life than before |
| D．communicate with other blind people |
| A．Daniel | B．Alain |
| C．Wim | D．Dean |
| A．make us respect people with power |
| B．introduce supermen in the real world |
| C．convince readers of humans’ super power |
| D．guide us how to discover our own super power |
8 . A typical school day in the UK starts around 8:30 am. This is often even earlier elsewhere in the world, with students sitting down to their first lesson at 7:30 am in the US. The average teenager ideally needs eight to nine hours’ sleep each night, but in reality a lot of teenagers struggle to get this much. A lot of the problems happen because our sleep patterns are not fixed, and they change as we grow.
So a later school start time could help to solve this problem, by ensuring to get their eight plus hours of sleep and react properly to their body’s natural rhythms(规律). There has been a general change over the past 25 years to shorten the school day, This is not at the cost of teaching time (which has remained constant) but at the cost of natural breaks, which has led to reduced lunch time and lesson breaks.
Later start times could help teens’ grades and health. This is mainly because it makes the management of children easier. Managing hundreds of children “playing” requires effective staffing. And there is always the fear that behavior worsens during breaks. So the theory goes that having them in class and strictly managed must be better.
But this means that students barely have enough time to absorb what they were doing in maths before suddenly they are forced to study ancient history. And teaching staff also move through from one class to another, with hardly a rest or time to refocus.
Clearly rethinking the school day could benefit everyone included. Anyway, it could also lead to better achievement in teenagers and less of a struggle for parents in the mornings. For teachers, it could also mean a less stressful day all around and what could be better than that?
1. At what time do the students start their first lesson in the US?| A．7:00 | B．7:30 |
| C．8:00 | D．8:30 |
| A．They reduce children’s lunch time and lesson breaks. |
| B．They reduce the teaching time. |
| C．They properly adjust children’ natural rhythms. |
| D．They increase more holidays. |
| A．To make children behave better in class. |
| B．To make children quickly take in what they learned. |
| C．To reduce children’s excitement. |
| D．To manage children more easily. |
| A．It will add to the teacher’s pressure. |
| B．It has always been there for 25 years. |
| C．Parents may support it. |
| D．It benefits the students only. |
