1 . Hartley got to Gentral Slalion nearly an hour before his train was due to leave. A lifetime in the theatre had given him a healthy — indeed excessive (过分的) — sense of punctuality; a lifetime of unwanted cups of coffee, constant checking of the time, yet another turn around the block before that all too often pointless, tiresome audition (试镜).
Hartley was 75 — pretty fit for his age, legs holding lip, memory still ticking over nicely — though the occasions for punctuality were now rather fewer. But he was a creature of habit and couldn’t change now.
He repaired to the restaurant purchased a coffee and a blueberry muffin, tired and failed to find a litter-free table. The coffee was awful, the muffin was stale — but the coffee was always awful, the muffin always stale. Hartley refused to let himself be annoyed. His visit to the city had not been without its pleasures. Lunch with an old actor-chum (好友), then a film — regrettably not utilizing (利用) his own talents — had rounded out an agreeable day.
Hartley was a good actor, although the calls on his talents were now infrequent. But really, he thought draining his awful coffee, he’d had a reasonably good career. Something to be proud of. But he’d never had that break-through part.
He headed for his platform. Just as the train was about to pull out a man ran down the platform, jumped aboard as the door slammed shut and sank into the seat next to Hartley.
“Cutting it a bit fine”, he said.
“Indeed”, Hartley replied. “A close run thing”.
The man — forty-ish, amiable looking — gave him an amused glance.
This brief exchange served as an adequate ice-breaker and they chatted their way through the outer suburbs and into the countryside. Having satisfactorily disposed of the sad state of the railways, country versus city living, his neighbour asked Hartley what he did—or had done—for a living.
Hartley hated telling people he was an actor. He was not ashamed of his job. Not in the least, but he had long tired of reactions ranging from “what have I seen you in” to “how do you learn all those lines”.
So in situations like this he simply selected an occupation from a former role. Bit risky, of course. You say you’re a doctor and find yourself meeting the quizzical（疑问的）gaze of a heart surgeon. But he’d never been caught out and it was harmless enough game, Hartley felt. It amused him, and he’d given some damn good performances too.
“I’m a lawyer”, he replied. “Retired several years ago. Property law. Bit of criminal stuff”.
The train was slowing down. The man glanced out of the window.
“My station. I had you quite wrong then”.
He stood and took down his briefcase from the overhead rack.
“Yes, I’d have said you were an actor. The voice especially. Still, lawyers are actors in a way, don’t you think? Plenty of drama in a courtroom”.
The train drew into the station.
“I’m a film director. Casting a feature at the moment. You study faces. On the train. Everywhere. Always on the lookout. Anyway, enjoyed our chat. Bye.”
1. What did Hartley think of his not telling his occupation?| A．Harmful to his acting career. | B．Amusing despite the risk |
| C．Helpful to protect his identity | D．Upsetting when caught out. |
| A．He assumed Hartley had given another answer. |
| B．He understood Hartley’s profession was acting. |
| C．He thought Hartley practiced a different profession. |
| D．He mistook Hartley for another person. |
| A．shows the readers how unexpectedly Hartley’s career ends |
| B．describes Hanley’s shock on finding the man is a director |
| C．confirms Hartley's lack of luck in spite of his acting skills |
| D．proves the man will reconsider giving Hartley a chance to act |
| A．Acting up | B．Employ talents |
| C．Selecting an occupation | D．Casting a feature |
2 . We often hear friends ask why they should read fiction. There is so much to learn from history, from what is going on at the frontiers of science, and from contemporary studies of human behavior. Why should they spend their scarce "free time" reading fiction, the purpose of which, at best, is only entertainment?
We are disappointed about such comments. Yes, we respond, we do find pleasure in reading fiction. But we also learn much about how to best live our lives in ways that can only be captured by fiction. We recognize that some novels are entertaining, but leave no lasting impression. What makes a novel more than entertainment?
Our answer is that we don't just read great books - they read us as well. The human condition is complex and contradictory, layered like an ice-cream dessert, with flavors mixed among the layers. A great novel reflects that complexity. We may read it several times, as we do with our favorites, and each time it is like finding an old friend and gaining new insights from that friend. We put it down with new understandings of the world around us and, most important, of ourselves.
Let's look at the novel Frankenstein, written in 1818 by Mary Shelley. Frankenstein is not the monster, but a young man seeking out the secrets of the universe. He collects body parts and charges it with life. When the dull yellow eyes open, however, Frankenstein, shocked by what he has done, abandons the creature, which ultimately kills Frankenstein's brother, his bride, and his best friend.
On one level, Frankenstein is entertaining - a good horror story, though a little dated. But Shelley writes more than just that. On a deeper level, her book forces us to ask whether humans reach too far to gain knowledge that is as forbidden as the fruit of the Garden of Eden. This theme, as old as the legend of Prometheus （普罗米修斯），dominates Frankenstein. Shelley, of course, knew nothing of genetic （遗传的）engineering that happens today. She was deeply troubled by what human beings might discover about themselves, and the effects of those discoveries on society. Our reading of great literature can also be enriched by understanding the author's personal interests and anxieties.
1. How does the author feel about fiction reading?| A．It is a window to a whole new world. |
| B．It helps us discover the frontiers of science. |
| C．It offers insight into how to live best lives. |
| D．It holds some clues to understanding our memory. |
| A．Because they deserve reading several times. |
| B．Because they lead us to a rich and colorful life. |
| C．Because they explore humans' complex reality. |
| D．Because they improve the writer-reader relationship. |
| A．It is based on a grand theme. |
| B．It is a record of a historic event. |
| C．It is merely a great horror story. |
| D．It is about the legend of Prometheus. |
| A．Why should we read fiction? |
| B．Can novel reading last long? |
| C．Read for fun or read for none? |
| D．Is Frankenstein really entertaining? |
3 . For British people, the word karaoke caused foggy and unpleasant memories at the office Christmas party. The less-talent performers faced the karaoke machine instead of listeners. They totally enjoyed themselves and didn’t care about what people thought even though it sounded like they tried singing their worst. Many people thought such singing was more like a stupid show. But recently the sing-along activity has been popular again. Karaoke nights have come out around the UK.
Iain Irving, the founder of Supercube, a karaoke gathering place in Edinburgh, said the COVID-19 made karaoke totally different this time. What people used to think of karaoke had become the real past. Irving said, “It is almost like that a suffering man had to go through, about sadness and worry in front of his friends. But karaoke is supposed to be about relaxing oneself in music.” According to Irving, Let It Go from Frozen is the most popular song in Supercube. And letting go is exactly what karaoke is all about. “When you sing, it does make you feel good,” said Irving.
It’s no surprise that karaoke finds its voice again. Singing is known to be bonding (粘合). However, how long has it been since you and your friends sat together to sing songs to your heart’s content? Social media has almost replaced most people’s real social life. Rob Pursey, the founder of Hip Hop Karaoke, said, “Social media can separate us a bit, but karaoke differs. I think people are looking for and they fall in love with those exciting feelings of getting together.”
The COVID-19 has been going on for several months in the UK. Everyone is tired of the news on the Internet, so it’s nice for people to come out to sing their favorite songs to a cheering crowd. “With boring news ruling the headlines, we are all eager to escape, and karaoke provides it. You just feel like you’re on a different planet for a couple of hours,” said Irving.
1. What was the British people’s attitude to the karaoke activity in the past?| A．Positive | B．Negative | C．Uninterested | D．Doubtful |
| A．They intend to release feelings through karaoke. |
| B．They like to sing different kinds of pleasant songs. |
| C．They expect to find strength in songs to fight the virus. |
| D．They listen to others singing instead of singing together. |
| A．Karaoke should include various games. |
| B．Social media will cost people much time. |
| C．Social media make communication more effective. |
| D．Karaoke brings people the pleasure of close communication. |
| A．Karaoke’s return to the UK. |
| B．The benefits of singing karaoke. |
| C．British people’s debate over karaoke. |
| D．The development of karaoke in the UK. |
4 . In the past few decades, great progress has been made in the field of space exploration, which has enabled mankind to have a deeper understanding of the Solar System, our place in it and in the universe. “We sent probes(探测器) to every planet in the Solar System. This is by far the best one,” said Clayton, vice president of Blue Origin. “Let's focus right now on protecting the Earth environment, and then we'll go from there. Space science and technology should be people-centric and application-centric, and focus on improving human life. We need to have a strong footing on the Earth, learn to solve the day-to-day problems of the society.”
“Space technology can help achieve the 17 sustainable development goals to be achieved by 2030 set by the United Nations. Satellite monitoring can really help with agriculture. ” said Victoria, CEO of a company working on sustainable development, “Through Global Navigation Satellite System, animals' movement information recorded on self-recharging devices can be transmitted to the company server. Farmers can be alerted in real time if anomalies(异常现象）are detected. We can use it to ensure the traceability of the entire meat chain. As a result, it enables consumers to know that the beef they are eating does not come from protected areas or the cattle don't contribute to deforestation. ”
As early as 2007, Michael Griffin, former Administrator of NASA, put forward the concept of the “space economy” in a speech. He is very optimistic about the market prospect of commercial space and said, “According to the latest data, the global space industry could reach $1 trillion in 2040, up from $ 378 billion currently. I believe more business models and space activities will be created in the future to achieve the economic scale of $1 trillion. ”
As an entrepreneur(创业者）herself, Victoria thinks the thriving space market will bring countless opportunities for entrepreneurs. She mentioned future settlements on Mars or on the Moon. “If we are going to develop a new society outside the Earth, we will need all types of applications and all types of startups. But coming back to the Earth, there are so many problems that need to be solved, and space technology can really help with that.”
1. What does the underlined word “This” in Paragraph 1 refer to ?| A．A successful space exploration. |
| B．A probe sent to other planets. |
| C．The planet people are living on now. |
| D．The solar system people are exploring. |
| A．Providing more financial support. |
| B．Improving people's life on earth. |
| C．Sending more probes in the universe. |
| D．The development of related technology. |
| A．By making reasoning. |
| B．By providing accurate figures. |
| C．By making comparison. |
| D．By illustrating from different aspects. |
| A．Necessities of space exploration. |
| B．Breakthroughs in space exploration. |
| C．Possible application of space technology. |
| D．Controversial issues about space technology. |
5 . The potential of a simple gesture to capture the public’s imagination in a time of crisis was illustrated when 99-year-old British army veteran Captain Tom Moore decided to raise some money for workers and patients’ health.
Inspired by the excellent treatment he had received in hospital for skin cancer, he promised to complete 100 laps of his garden, using his walking frame for support, before his 100th birthday later that month. His aim was to raise a modest £1, 000. But news of Captain Tom’s efforts soon reached the ears of a nation through newspapers and TV features. He even teamed up with the singer Michael Ball to record a charity version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Several weeks later, Captain Tom completed his 100 laps ahead of schedule, having raised more than £17 million. “I never dreamt I would be involved in an occasion like this,” he announced. But the Captain Tom’s passion showed no sign of dying down. By the time he reached his 100th birthday on 30th April, he had raised nearly £33 million. He was honoured with a fly-past by Britain’s air force, and the public sent more than 1, 50, 000 birthday cards. His response? “To all those people who are finding it difficult at the moment… the sun will shine on you again, and the clouds will go away.” he said.
In honour of his achievement, Captain Tom was promoted to the rank of Honorary Colonel, and awarded a knighthood(骑士) on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The money he raised was used to provide comfort and care for National Health Service workers. “I’ve never been someone who does nothing,” he laughs, adding that he enjoyed the challenge. He believes the secret for his success—and his long life—is simple: “It’s all about having the right mindset. You’ve got to be optimistic and to think that things will get better.”
1. What can we learn about Tom Moore’s intention?| A．He originally only had a small goal. |
| B．He never planned to cooperate with others. |
| C．He was inspired by a miserable experience . |
| D．He intended to take advantage of his birthday party. |
| A．It was used to help senior citizens. |
| B．It was decided by National Health Service. |
| C．It was rewarded to those making contributions. |
| D．It was used to help National Health Service workers. |
| A．Demanding. | B．Ambitious. |
| C．Considerate. | D．Humorous. |
| A．Giving is rewarding. |
| B．Though old, yet devoted. |
| C．Brighten others at any time. |
| D．More kindness Jess coldness. |
6 . A Chicago woman, Karen Autenrieth, who lost her wedding band nearly 50 years ago was reunited with the ring just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The story began during the winter of 1973. “It was very cold and the snow piled up along the roads,” Karen told the Chicago Tribune. “I had to help each kid climb over the large piles to get into my grandparents' yard. My hands were cold---I didn't have gloves on---and my ring just flew into the snow.” Despite her best efforts, Karen was unable to find the ring.
In February, a Chicago man who lost his own wedding ring posted on Facebook asking if anyone had found it. In the comments section, Sarah Batka, a woman who lives in Autenrieth's grandparents' former home% said she had discovered a wedding ring eight years ago while gardening. It wasn't the man s ring» but it sparked a hunt for the rightful owner.
Two historians---Carol Flynn and Linda Lamberty from the Historical Society---set off to solve the mystery. They used every means to retrace the origin of the ring and finally drew a conclusion that a woman, Karen Autenrieth, whose grandparents had once lived in Batka’s home, was the possible owner.
“The woman was on Facebook. So I asked whether this ring was hers. ’’ Flynn wrote in the post. “She replied—it was hers!”
After connecting, Flynn mailed the ring to Autenrieth, who received the package on Valentine's Day. 44Holy Mary, I can t believe it. Karen told the Chicago Tribune. “Just think I get the ring back after almost 50 years!
1. When did Karen lose her wedding band?| A．When she played snow with kids. |
| B．When she cleaned the snow on the road. |
| C．When she aided kids to get over piles of snow. |
| D．When she helped her grandparents do gardening. |
| A．Sarah's honest report. | B．Karen’s endless efforts. |
| C．A similar case from a man. | D．Flynn and Linda's assistance. |
| A．A Special Valentine’s Day |
| B．A Woman with a Magic Story |
| C．The Return of a Long-lost Ring |
| D．The Search for the Rightful Owner |
7 . Look up in the sky. See that French poodle? Before your eyes it morphs into an elephant. A few seconds later, it becomes the profile of Taylor Swift floating by. Cloud-watching has captured our imaginations since we were children. Many people even have found the International Cloud Appreciation Society.
In 2003 Gavin Pretor-Pinney was living in Rome while on holiday. After seven months glancing into the heavens at the mostly clear blue Roman skies, he discovered he missed the constantly changing cloud formations that were an everyday event in his native United Kingdom. He returned home and was engrossed in learning about clouds. The subject dominated his conversation for a year. Then a friend invited him to speak about clouds at a small literary festival. Pretor-Pinney titled his presentation "The Inaugural Lecture of the Cloud Appreciation Society." Afterward, he had to inform audience members who wanted to join the society that it did not exist. A few months later he launched a website, and the society was born. Five years ago it became his full-time occupation.
Today, the Cloud Appreciation Society enjoys a membership of more than 50,000 people scattered in 120 countries, all united through their appreciation of celestial mist. It is divided into local groups that include a chapter in St. Louis, and another in central Missouri. Illinois cloud spotter groups are near Chicago.
Pretor-Pinney thinks of the society as reconnecting people with their early relationship to the sky as children finding images in the clouds. "Clouds are for dreams, and a deep thinking of them benefits the soul. If you consider the shapes you see in clouds, it will save you money on psychoanalysis bills," Pretor-Pinney jokes.
In a positive Ted Talk about the Cloud Appreciation Society accessible on the Internet, Pretor-Pinney points out that clouds are common to everyone no matter where they are in the world. They are the most egalitarian (平等主义者) of nature's displays, because people all have a fantastic view of the sky.
1. What is the purpose of Paragraph 1?| A．To explain a natural phenomenon. | B．To recommend an international society. |
| C．To lead in the main topic of the text. | D．To stimulate readers' imaginations. |
| A．Was involved in. | B．Was absorbed in. | C．Took pride in. | D．Participated in. |
| A．The Cloud Appreciation Society enjoys popularity. |
| B．The Cloud Appreciation Society has three groups. |
| C．The society attracts a lot of children with dreams. |
| D．The society helps people save money and heal their souls. |
| A．A fantastic cloud-watching society | B．A group full of imagination |
| C．A society benefiting souls | D．A positive Ted Talk |
8 . Imagine driving down a country road past a huge, open field where goats are eating grass. Suddenly a truck breaks down and makes a loud noise. Just as suddenly, the goats fall to the ground.
A few moments pass. The goats are back on their feet. What just happened? Well, the goats were very frightened and dropped to the ground, but not all goats act like this. There is only one kind of goat that behaves this way when it is surprised. It is called a Tennessee Fainting Goat.
In the 1800s, a farmer arrived in Marshall County, Tennessee, with a few goats and a cow. People say he came from Nova Scotia, Canada. Since the man did not talk much, no one knew where he got these goats. When he left, he took the cow, but he sold the goats.
The behavior of one of the goats was different from most others. Being frightened caused the goat’s body to go stiff and sometimes fall over. No one had seen goats do this before. They began to call this new goat a Tennessee Fainting Goat.
This special kind of goat does not actually faint. They just look like they do. The fainting goats stay awake. The baby goats, however, usually do fall over, but the good thing is that they do not have far to fall. Some older ones learn to stand near something like a fence or a tree, just in case they are frightened.
Now there are about three thousand fainting goats in the United States. People enjoy raising them, because goats of this kind are gentle, smart, and playful. They just get scared stiff now and then. The moment of stiffness only lasts about ten or fifteen seconds. Then the goats walk and act like any other goat.
1. What happens to the goats that fall to the ground a few moments later?| A．They fall asleep. | B．They eat much more. |
| C．They stand up again. | D．They are taken away by the truck. |
| A．Green fields. | B．A light wind. | C．Loud thunder. | D．Pleasant smells. |
| A．No one likes to raise them. | B．Not all of them really fall over. |
| C．Their stiffness lasts a long time. | D．Not all of them stay awake when they faint. |
| A．likes eating outside | B．sleeps during the day |
| C．comes from Canada | D．acts in a strange way |
9 . With the world’s attention on vaccines (疫苗), now feels like a good moment to sing the praises of an often forgotten contribution to their development. Three hundred years ago this month, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu got her daughter inoculated (接种) against smallpox, making her child the first person in the West to be protected in this way. Without Montagu’s willingness to adopt a practice she had learned from other cultures, the introduction of vaccines around 80 years later would never have taken place.
Montagu first witnessed inoculation when she accompanied her husband to Turkey in 1717. Inoculation had started in Asia, probably in China, as early as the 10th century AD. Montagu observed how older women in Turkey took a tiny amount of pus (脓) from a person with smallpox. They then used needles to make cuts on people’s wrists and ankles and added the pus to their bloodstream. This helped people gain immunity from future infection.
Like other visitors to the country, Montagu took steps to ensure that her son was inoculated in Turkey. This worked well, but she knew that trying it in England would be far more challenging. Inoculation performed by unlicensed amateurs would threaten doctors’ professional standing and potentially rob them of valuable income. Churchmen also disagree with the practice, as they saw it as going against nature.
Back in England, Montagu observed the increased severity of smallpox infections. Eventually, in April 1721, she decided to use the Turkish practice to have her daughter inoculated, because she believed that the rewards would outweigh the risks. After a safe time had passed following the inoculation, Montagu allowed doctors to examine her daughter.
Doctors in Britain gradually accepted the practice. About so years later, a pioneering physician found smallpox vaccines to destroy smallpox completely. As early as last century, academics argued that Montagu was no more than an enthusiastic amateur. In truth, she made a vital scientific contribution towards finding the cure for smallpox.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．The origin of smallpox inoculation. |
| B．Montagu’s first access to inoculation. |
| C．The benefits from smallpox inoculation. |
| D．Turkish women’s invention of inoculation. |
| A．it was against human nature | B．it might harm doctors’ interests |
| C．it was beyond doctors’ abilities | D．it might shake churchmen’s belief |
| A．The increased severity of smallpox infections. |
| B．A physician’s discovery of smallpox vaccines. |
| C．The result of Montagu’s daughter’s inoculation. |
| D．Montagu’s focus on its rewards rather than its risks. |
| A．An unsung hero | B．No limit to creation |
| C．Development of vaccines | D．A historic medical innovation |
10 . When 66-year-old Londoner Sylvia Haller was laid off in February, it wasn't her income that took a hit. It was her self-respect. “I had this feeling like ‘I'm too old’,” she says. “Nobody wants to employ me anymore.” When a friend told her about TaskRabbit, an app that allows workers to sell all kinds of services—like fixing furniture or waiting in line for special breakfast. She set up an account on her phone, and lined up customers for many different jobs.
The gig economy(零工经济)has exploded in recent years. In a report, researchers estimate 77 million people within Europe, India, and the US formally identify themselves as freelancers(自由职业者).
For most of those workers, freelancing is a choice: only a small minority said they were unable to find full-time jobs. They got into the gig economy in the hope of getting more control over their careers and diversifying the sources of their income.
Almost one-third of Americans who work in the gig economy are baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964. Among those 55 and older, 32% said they were driven, at least in part, by a desire to be around interesting people. “Not knowing what kind of customer you're going to meet is quite exciting,” says Haller, recalling fixing a bed for a student. “I spend less time working and have more time to be home.”
For boomers who work in physically demanding fields, digital gig work can be a relief. Jerry Nelson, a photojournalist, says he's “too old to charge into forests...” Instead, he writes blog posts for others he finds through an online platform.
For some others, gig work is a way to finally pursue their passions. American Dan Hays, 68, who spent most of his career in the oil and gas industries, in 2015 booked his first voi-ceover(旁白)acting job. “I want to try something different and that suits my fancy,” said Hays.
1. What hit Sylvia Haller hardest with being unemployed?| A．Her income. | B．Her pride. |
| C．Her family. | D．Her knowledge. |
| A．It's an app. | B．It aims at elder people. |
| C．It's a new way of working. | D．It's a new form of consumption. |
| A．To meet fun people. | B．To reach out for something new. |
| C．To gain more recognition. | D．To balance work and family. |
| A．The baby boomers in the US |
| B．The daily work of the elderly |
| C．People change retirement with a new form |
| D．Work helps people connect with their communities |
