1 . The year 2017 was marked by some rare scientific events and discoveries.
A rare eclipse（日食）covers the US
Among the rare events of the year was a total solar eclipse visible across the United States on August 21.It had been 99 years since a similar eclipse took place in the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country took time to see the moon partly or completely hide the sun. Many went to places like Carbondale, Illinois, Oregon and Charleston to see the total eclipse. Some people cannot see the eclipse, for cloudy weather messed up the view in some places, but many others had clear skies.
Is warming climate making storms worse?
Many scientists are concerned that rising world temperatures will cause more dangerous weather events. And the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva says 2017 could be among the three hottest years on record. Three powerful ocean storms struck Caribbean islands and the southern US in 2017, which brought more attention to the issue. Hurricane Harvey caused unbelievable flooding to the Houston area in the state of Texas. And Hurricanes Irma and Maria left severe damage in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Climate experts say rising temperatures will make ocean storms—like hurricanes and typhoons—sharper and with higher wind speeds. Rising sea levels could also make ocean storms worse as waves from the sea force water further inland becoming a danger to highly populated coastal cities.
A good reason to believe in UFOs
Fans of unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, might be glad to know that the United States Defense Department had a secret program to make research on the unknown secret. From 2007 to 2017, the department spent $ 22 million researching unexplained objects seen in the air, including some reported by military pilots. News reports question whether the search for answers about UFOs continues. Reid, spokesman from the Defense Department, answered reporters on Twitter this way：“The truth is out there. Seriously.”
1. Why was it impossible to watch the 2017 eclipse in some places in the US?| A．The sunshine was unpleasantly bright. | B．It was completely hidden by the cloud |
| C．It happened too far from Earth to watch. | D．The sun was partly hidden by the moon. |
| A．The effects of global warming. | B．The fast rising of the sea level. |
| C．The increase of the wind speeds. | D．The danger of living in coastal cities. |
| A．They are absolutely out there in space. | B．Observation on them is not going on. |
| C．Search for their existence will continue. | D．People’s questions on them are absurd. |
2 . Stephen Hawking was both one of the world's most famous scientists and most famous disabled people. His life was a juxtaposition of sparkling intellect and failing body. Prof Hawking was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone(运动神经元) diseases when he was 21.
The nerves that controlled his muscles were failing and he became trapped in his body, but his mind was still free. He reached the height of his field while being a wheelchair user.
Professor Hawking certainly raised awareness of motor neurone diseases. One of his major contributions to disability in general was simply being visible---often at a time when disabled voices were missing from popular culture. He made small-screen appearances on The Simpsons, Star Trek and The Big Bang Theory. His life was dramatised (将…改成剧本)by the BBC and in the film The Theory of Everything.
Steve Bell, from the MND association, said: "He was probably the most famous person with a physical disability and it almost normalises it to see his absolute genius. I think it affected a lot of people, seeing he's more than a trapped body. The public's view of disability has changed.
But Prof Hawking’s life was exceptional. He lived five decades longer than doctors expected. Many others with motor neurone diseases die in the years after diagnosis. He was a theoretical physicist. His laboratory was in the mind; his scientific equipment was mathematics.
Prof Hawking was able to continue to pursue his career in a way that would have been much harder in other scientific disciplines and impossible in many other professions. It remains an open question how much he would have achieved if he was disabled from birth rather than after graduating with a first at Oxford. Today, disabled people are more than twice as likely to be unemployed than people without disability. Prof Hawking 's only advice on disability was to focus on what could be achieved. "My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, and don 't regret the things it interferes with. Don't be disabled in spirit, as well as physically,” he said in an interview with the New York Times.
1. What does the underlined word juxtaposition in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Combination. | B．Trouble. |
| C．Difficulty. | D．Mess. |
| A．By trying not to get trapped by the disease. |
| B．By making the voice of the disabled heard. |
| C．By making people be used to the small screen. |
| D．By working for the BBC and film companies. |
| A．He was the most well-known person. |
| B．He was affected greatly by many people. |
| C．He changed people's view of disabled people. |
| D．His physical disability affected his mind. |
| A．Try to find a job and don't be unemployed. |
| B．Don't ignore your health. |
| C．Stick to the goals that you can reach. |
| D．Don’t think you are physically disabled. |
3 . The bus stops in the Dutch city of Utrecht are as beautiful as they are practical. Now, 316 bus stops feature a green roof that adds some life to the city, while also storing rainwater, catching dust, and providing some much needed shade during the warmer months. This project is good for the honey bee population that is attracted to the plants on the roof. To keep up this successful ecosystem, municipal（市政的）workers drive around in electric cars, taking care of the mini gardens.
Another one of the biggest benefits to come out of these green stops is the improved air quality. Smoking, cars, and bacteria all contribute to polluting the air we breathe. These eco-friendly public spaces act as an air purifier for city people, though humans aren’t the only group that benefit from them.
Utrecht has also made great efforts towards moving their transportation system away from gas-guzzling（高耗油的）buses. The city replaced 10 gas-guzzling buses with electric powered buses and plans to have only CO2 inactive buses on the road by 2028.
The buses have a system that records the driver’s efficiency and rider’s comfort levels. Drivers can win prizes based on how safe and comfortable the ride was. The city is also one of the most bicycle-friendly places in the world. Roads have been redesigned for cyclists’ convenience and there is a new state-of-the-art 6,000 space bicycle parking area that is located beneath Utrecht’s central train station.
Utrecht offers prize money to keep citizens energized and motivated to live greener lives. There are even prize money for people to transform their roofs into green roofs too. Achieving the goals of an eco-friendlier city takes cooperation and Utrecht is leading the way to protect our environment.
1. What is special about the bus stops in Utrecht?| A．They are eco-friendly. |
| B．They can save a lot of energy. |
| C．They are artificially-intelligent. |
| D．They can provide electric power for buses. |
| A．Not all buses are gas-guzzling at present. |
| B．Gas-guzzling cars have been completely replaced. |
| C．Only electric private cars are allowed on the roads. |
| D．Buses have air purifiers fixed on them. |
| A．Buses are always too crowded. |
| B．Buses are often behind schedule. |
| C．Buses are too big for redesigned roads. |
| D．Buses are generally comfortable and safe. |
| A．Give up smoking. | B．Create gardens on their roofs. |
| C．Paint their roofs green. | D．Buy more honey. |
4 . The victims were carried in one by one, their paws burned and fur burnt, suffering from dehydration (脱水) and fear. Their caretakers bandaged (用绷带包扎) their wounds and laid them in baskets with the only thing that was familiar — the leaves of a eucalyptus (桉树) tree. As fires have burned more than two million acres in Australia, dozens of koalas have been rescued from burned trees and pale ground. The animals are being treated in rescue centers, and at least one private home, along the country’s east coast.
The difficult situation of the koala — a national symbol of Australia — has raised questions among environmentalists and scientists about what it will take to protect biodiversity (生物多样性) in a country with intense fire, extreme heat and lack of water. Australia has already been among the highest rates of species extinction in the world.
The bad situation goes beyond koalas. Recently, tens of thousands of bats fell from the sky in temperatures over 107 degrees Fahrenheit in northern Australia. Kangaroos destroyed the grapes in Canberra because of drought.
“Climate change and other human impacts have so changed the situation that the government needs to rethink its way to protect at once,” Dr. Bowman said, suggesting interventions (干预) like irrigating, feeding and moving animals to new places.
Koalas, unlike kangaroos, birds or snakes, do not escape from fires. Therefore, though the fires are still burning, a rescue team began to search the area carefully. Walking in a human chain, they looked up to the tree top, searching for survivors.
1. What do the victims in the first paragraph refer to?| A．Animals injured in fires. |
| B．Kangaroos driven by drought. |
| C．Bats that fell from the sky. |
| D．Koalas rescued from the fire. |
| A．Wildfires that seldom happened. |
| B．Extreme hot weather in Australia. |
| C．The never-changing climate in Australia. |
| D．Not having enough money to take measures in Australia. |
| A．Human activities have little influence on animals. |
| B．The government should take immediate action. |
| C．The government does not care about the wild animals. |
| D．Scientists are concerned about the bad situation of wildlife. |
| A．Saving the Fire Victims Who Cannot Escape: Australia’s Koalas |
| B．Saving the Endangered Wild Animals in Australia |
| C．Actions Needed to Protect Habitat for Koalas |
| D．National Symbol of Australia Needs Rescue |
5 . A letter to the editor complained about someone stringing toilet paper on their trees. That letter brought a flood of responses defending this act as being harmless to friends: “ It's an honor to get toilet papered", said one writer, “and good fun for teenagers."
Reading these letters brought me chuckles (轻声笑)and then tears as they woke old memories of my mother’s ninety-second year. She was seriously ill that autumn. And I watched, powerless.
A decade before, I helped her break out" of the nursing home. It was a fine place with a caring staff. But Mom didn't want skilled care: she wanted to live on her own and just needed some assistance to do so. Being in a more restrictive environment than necessary was bad for her condition. The risk paid off, and I was rewarded by seeing my mother once again enjoying her life.
Ten years later, Mom's health declined, and my care-giving duties increased. One evening, for some unexplainable reason, I invited my mother to go toilet papering!
This outing would push my mother to her physical limits. Was I making a mistake? Secretly we went to my brother's home. In his backyard, I handed Mom a roll of toilet paper. Without hesitation she shot it skyward...
Mom papered a dozen trees in four family yards that unforgettable evening. The day after our big adventure, Mom and I sent a card to each of our victim, signed “From your decorators". We laughed all the way home from the post office, like two schoolgirls.
My mother's last year was marked by physical decline. However, we shared some simple fun each day. Those light-hearted moments were like a salve (慰藉)，and they are the ones I'll always remember. Toilet papering has taught us that play is powerful medicine!
1. Why did the author cry when reading the letter?| A．She was blamed for toilet papering. |
| B．It brought her childhood memory. |
| C．She thought of her sick mother. |
| D．It was very stressful. |
| A．Mom could enjoy a free life |
| B．Mom could get more skilled home care |
| C．the nursing cost could be cut down |
| D．they could avoid taking risk |
| A．They did some damage to four family yards. |
| B．They were made to apologize for their mistakes. |
| C．Toilet papering made her illness worsened. |
| D．Toilet papering brought them much pleasure. |
| A．A Letter of Complaint |
| B．Love Between Daughter and Mother |
| C．The Curing Power of Toilet Papering. |
| D．An Unforgettable Evening in Family Yards |
6 . (The New York Times, Oct.7) The 2019 Nobel Prize in physiology(生理学) or medicine was jointly awarded to three scientists — William G. Kaelin Jr., Peter J. Ratcliffe and Gregg L. Semenza — for their work on how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability. The Nobel Assembly announced the prize at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm on Monday.
Their work established the genetic mechanisms(机制) that allow cells to respond to changes in oxygen levels. The findings have implications(启示) for treating a variety of diseases.
Why did they win?
“Oxygen is the lifeblood of living organisms(生物体),” said Dr. George Daley, dean of Harvard Medical School. “Without oxygen, cells can’t survive.” But too much or too little oxygen can be deadly. The three researchers tried to answer this question: How do cells regulate their responses?
The investigators uncovered detailed genetic responses to changing oxygen levels that allow cells in the bodies of humans and other animals to sense and respond to fluctuations(波动), increasing and decreasing how much oxygen they receive.
Why is the work important?
The discoveries reveal the cellular mechanisms that control such things as adaptation to high altitudes and how cancer cells manage to hijack(攫取) oxygen. Randall Johnson, a member of the Nobel Assembly, described the work as a “textbook discovery” and said it would be something students would start learning at the most basic levels of biology education.
“This is a basic aspect of how a cell works, and I think from that standpoint alone it’s a very exciting thing.” Johnson said.
The research also has implications for treating various diseases in which oxygen is in short supply — including anemia, heart attacks and strokes — as well as for treatment of cancers that are fed by and seek out oxygen.
1. This research has won the Nobel Prize mainly because ____________.| A．there was no research of this kind in the past |
| B．oxygen is the lifeblood of living things |
| C．it has uncovered how cells sense and respond to changes in oxygen levels |
| D．various diseases will be cured with the help of the findings of the research |
| A．The Nobel Prize was awarded to a physiologist on Monday in Sweden. |
| B．Cancer cells manage to hijack oxygen and need oxygen to develop. |
| C．The more oxygen there is in blood, the healthier a living body will be. |
| D．The genetic mechanisms have been found that allow oxygen to adapt to cells. |
| A．used for textbooks | B．powerful and authoritative |
| C．typical as a perfect example | D．basic and clear |
| A．Entertainment | B．Culture |
| C．Technology | D．Science |
7 . A Kenyan teacher who gave away . most of his monthly salary (工资)to poor people has won a $1 -million Global Teacher Prize.
In 2016, Peter Tabichi came to Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School, a public school, in a faraway Kenya s Rift Valley. The school had just a single computer and had problems connecting to the Internet. It had no library or laboratory, as well. To make matters worse, the students came from poor families where basics like food and clothing were hard to come by. While these difficulties would have caused most people to leave quickly, Tabichi stayed.
Realizing that starving kids make for poor students, the teacher began using as much as 80 percent of his monthly salary to buy food and learning objects for them. He set up a science club to get kids interested in the topic. “Our laboratory does not have everything, but I encourage them to think wider and use what we can get locally. ”
Tabichi and other four teachers regularly visit low-achieving, at-risk, students at their homes to provide one- on-one help and to understand the difficulties these children face daily. Tabichi also encourages parents to allow girls to continue their high-school education.
Tabichi's efforts have made a difference. School registration (注册)has more than doubled to almost 400 now since he came . In 2017, 16 of the 59 graduating students went to college, while in 2018, the number rose to 26. In 2017 , five students qualified(有资格)for the Intel ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair). This year, two other students will compete in the 2019 Intel ISEF to be held in Phoenix, Arizona.
The teacher, however, owes his success to his students, saying,"I am only here because of what my students have achieved. This prize gives them a chance. It tells the world that they can do anything. " As would be expected, Tabichi plans to spend the prize money on his school community and to feed the poor.
1. What is the text mainly about?| A．A school located in a Kenya's Rift valley became famous. |
| B．A Kenyan teacher helping poor students won Global Teacher Prize. |
| C．A Kenyan teacher helped girls to continue their high-school education. |
| D．Five Kenyan students qualified for the Intel ISEF for their performance. |
| A．It had dozens of teachers. | B．It was in the of a city. |
| C．It owned a modern lab. | D．It was in poor condition. |
| A．Honest. | B．Wealthy. | C．Kind. | D．Humorous. |
| A．90. | B．190. | C．290 | D．390. |
8 . School activities for kids and teens
July is a month of fun-filled activities for kids and teens as long as you know where to find them. When you want some fun activities for July, consider these ideas happening in this month.
| Secret of the Dragon Time: Monday, July 1, 2013, 10:30 am Cost: Adult: 7．40 Children: half. Bookings Phone: 3403 2578 Address: Brisbane Botanic Gardens Note: Secret of the Dragon is a magical story about two children who are taken on a dragon | The Search for Life: Are WeAlone? Time: Thursday, July 4, 2013, 2:00 pm Cost: Adult: 14．50 Children: 8．70 Bookings Phone: 3403 7689 Address: Brisbane Botanic Gardens Note: Are we truly alone in space? Is there any life out there? These are the questions asked in this show. |
| ride to expel the universe. | |
| Magic Class Time: Friday, July 12, 2013, 10:00 am Cost: Free Booking Phone: 34038470 Address: Centenary Community hub, 171 Dandenong Note: Would you like to be a magician? Then join David, the magician, to learn about real magic with playing cards, coins, ring ropes and DIY projects and be able to become the life of the party. | Science with Me: Making your own guitar! Time: Saturday, July 20, 2013, 3:00 pm Cost: Free Booking phone: 3403 1226 Address: 10, Egginton Close Note: Do you want to make a guitar with Katy and her morn? Science with Me is going to be with you. Please remember to bring a piece of wood, a hammer, some rubber bands and some nails with you. |
1. Alec is strongly interested in space life. He may go to ________.
| A．Magic Class | B．Science with Me |
| C．The Search for Life | D．Secret of the Dragon |
| A．7.40 | B．11.10 |
| C．14.80 | D．23.20 |
| A．They can all be booked by phone. |
| B．They happen in the same place. |
| C．They are all weekend activities. |
| D．They are all free. |
9 . About aspirin:
Aspirin is a commonly used drug which can be taken to relieve discomfort caused by numerous medical problems including headaches, toothache, inflammation and infections. It is also suitable to treat colds and flu-like symptoms, and to reduce a high temperature.
Who can take aspirin?
Adults and children over 16 years of age.
Who should not take aspirin?
Women who are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. Aspirin may harm your unborn baby.
Women who are breast-feeding. Aspirin can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby.
People who have any problems with the way the liver works or with the way the kidneys work.
How to take aspirin:
Take aspirin after meals, with a full glass of water or milk.
The recommended dose ranges from two to three tablets at a time. Never take more than 4g (12 tablets) in any 24-hour period.
You must not take these tablets with any other medicine which contains any aspirin or painkiller.
How to store aspirin:
Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
Store aspirin in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
Do not put aspirin in the bathroom because the dampness there can cause it to lose its effectiveness.
Throw away aspirin that smells strongly of vinegar.
Possible side effects:
Feeling sick, increased risk of bleeding, stomach pain, indigestion and heartburn are common. If these effects continue, contact your doctor.
Ringing in the ears, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and mental confusion are rare. If these occur, stop taking the drug and contact your doctor for further advice.
1. In which case will you take aspirin according to the text?| A．Stomachache. | B．Fever. |
| C．Breathlessness. | D．Nosebleed. |
| A．12. | B．18. |
| C．20. | D．5. |
| A．A hospital announcement. | B．A medical report. |
| C．A doctor’s suggestions list. | D．Medical instructions. |
10 . A company in San Francisco, California, has found a way to turn used plastic bottles into women’s shoes.
Every day, millions of Americans drink water and other liquids from plastic bottles. More than 60 million of them are thrown away each day. Many of the plastic bottles end up in landfills or are burned with other waste products.
A San Francisco start-up company called Rothy’s, however, turns this plastic waste into environmentally friendly shoes. Roth Martin is the company’s co-founder. He explains how they turn plastic into soft material for women’s feet. They take the plastic, clean it, and break it down into small pieces. Then they press them through a device that makes soft fibers. Those fibers are then combined together. This is done by a 3D machine. It is designed to reduce waste while making the shoes. The knitted stuff and the inner part of the shoe are then attached to the shoe’s outer part, called the sole (鞋底). This outer sole is also made from environmentally friendly material: responsibly sourced no-carbon rubber.
Rothy’s shoes are sold online. They are flat shoes, with either a rounded or pointed toe. They come in different colors and designs. They cost either $ 125 or $ 145 per pair, depending on the design. After American actress Gwyneth Paltrow discovered them last year, the demand for the shoes grew. Martin says there is no shortage of material to fill that demand. “We’re not going to run out of water bottles any time soon. So we have a limitless supply of material, and I think that is a good sign for our future.” When the environmentally friendly shoes wear out, customers can return them at no cost to a company that uses the recycled materials to make other products.
For now, the shoes are only available to be shipped in the United States. However, the company says it will add international shipping in the near future.
1. How are used plastic bottles usually dealt with?| A．They are buried or burned. |
| B．They are used to make shoes. |
| C．They are changed into soft materials. |
| D．They are returned to factories for reuse. |
| A．Attached. | B．Fixed. |
| C．Combined. | D．Repaired. |
| A．The design and color. | B．The reasonable price. |
| C．The company’s advertisement. | D．The star power of Gwyneth Paltrow. |
| A．To advertise a new kind of shoes. |
| B．To describe the process of making shoes. |
| C．To introduce a new way of recycling plastic waste. |
| D．To stress the importance of environmental protection. |
