1 . It is becoming a growing trend that more and more consumers across the country are using cashless payment methods. The rapid development of third-party mobile payment tools is helping to boost cashless payments across the country, said Dong Ximiao, a researcher at the Renmin University of China.
Transactions (交易) involving third-party mobile payments rose by 46.8 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the previous quarter to 18.8 trillion yuan, according to a report released in May.
Although there were 3.4 billion third-party payment accounts in total in China in 2016, China is not the first country to seek a cashless society. Developed states like Sweden, Denmark and Singapore are also witnessing that increase.
However, the rapid development of cashless payments does not mean there are no challenges and criticisms. Alibaba’s Hema store, where customers can shop, dine and order commodities for delivery from their mobile phones via Alipay, have come into the spotlight recently. Media reports said that consumers can’t purchase goods with cash there, which would be considered illegal.
Alipay and WeChat Pay, the nation’s two major third-party mobile payment tools, also launched campaigns this month to encourage more merchants and customers to use cashless payment methods, which caused concerns over whether cash will soon disappear.
“Some offline sellers refuse to accept cash, which impacts the natural circulation of yuan,” said Dong. He emphasized that a cashless society would not mean that cash would completely disappear. As the economy grows, the circulation of cash is still very huge, noted Dong. Also, it’s important to remember that nearly half of China’s population live in rural areas, especially in undeveloped western regions, unable to enjoy innovation (革新) brought by the Internet, Dong said. And when it comes to China’s senior citizens, most of them prefer to use cash in their daily lives, he added.
“It’s ridiculous to question digital payment tools’ contribution toward financial development. In the long term, various payment methods will be used by consumers, and merchants should respect consumers’ payment habits,” Dong noted.
1. What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 3 probably refer to?| A．Economic activity. | B．Cashless payment. |
| C．Development of economy. | D．Large amount of payment. |
| A．It fights against illegal activities. |
| B．It provides comprehensive services. |
| C．Customers are not permitted to use cash there. |
| D．It starts campaigns to encourage mobile payment. |
| A．Various payment methods ought to be respected. |
| B．People should be encouraged to use mobile payment. |
| C．Most elderly people have no access to mobile payment. |
| D．Mobile payment isn’t beneficial to a cost-effective society. |
| A．China’s cashless trend. | B．The research on mobile payment. |
| C．The reasons to use mobile payment. | D．China’s cashless future. |
2 . Thanksgiving Day is special holiday in the United States and Canada. Families and friends gather to eat and give thanks for their blessing.
Thanksgiving Day is really a harvest festival. This is why it is celebrated in late fall, after the crops are in. But one of the first thanksgivings in America had nothing to do with a good harvest. On December 4, 1619, the Pilgrims from England landed near what is now Charles City, Virginia. They knelt down and thanked God for their safe journey across the Atlantic.
The first New England Thanksgiving did celebrate a rich harvest. The Pilgrims landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. They had a difficult time and the first winter was cruel. Many of the Pilgrims died. But the next year, they had a good harvest. So Governor Bradford declared a three-day feast(盛宴). The Pilgrims invited Indian friends to join them for their special feast. Everyone brought food.
In time, other colonies(殖民地) began to celebrate a day of thanksgiving. But it took years before there was a national Thanksgiving Day. During the Civil War, Sarah Josepha Hale persuaded Abraham Lincoln to do something about it. He proclaimed(宣布) the last Thursday of November 1863 as a day of thanksgiving. Today, Americans celebrate this happy harvest festival on the fourth Thursday in November. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day in much the same way as their American neighbours. But the Canadian thanks-giving Day falls on the second Monday in October.
1. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated .| A．in spring | B．summer |
| C．in autumn | D．in winter |
| A．some people from England | B．the American Indians |
| C．Sarah Josepha Hale | D．Governor Bradford |
| A．in the U. S. A. | B．in Great Britain |
| C．in Canada | D．on some island off the Atlantic |
| A．Thanksgiving Day used to be a holiday to celebrate a good harvest. |
| B．Abraham Lincoln was not the first to decide on thanksgiving celebrations. |
| C．Thanksgiving Day is celebrated to express the American and Indian people’s thanks to God. |
| D．There’s little difference between the American way and the Canadian way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. |
| A．how Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the U. S. A. |
| B．how Thanksgiving Day came into being and the different ways it is celebrated |
| C．that Thanksgiving Day is in fact a harvest holiday |
| D．how the way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day changed with the time and places |
3 . 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. |
4 . All Summer Camp Programs
Llandovery, Wale, UK
Language and Music for Life (LMFL) — Founded in 1997, LMFL offers unique 2-week summer music and language courses. LMFL provides quality one-to-one training in a wide range of instruments & voice lessons for highly-motivated musicians of all ages.
Study programs & classes include: 2 weeks with Musical Masterclasses: Composition; Violin; Piano; Recorder; Guitar and Classical Singing...
Saint-Raphael, France
France Langue and Culture (FLC) — Experience a fun, educational language holiday for all the family this summer! FLC is the most family-friendly language school providing French summer classes for teens and young children.
Study programs & classes include: 1- 4 Week Sessions. Children’s Summer Camps for ages 4-12, with homestay accommodation by French host families.
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Edu-Inter Summer Language School (EI) — EI offers summer French programs for children and teenagers (ages 10-17) and adults (16+). Quebec City is the only major city in Canada that offers a 100% French-speaking environment, making it the ideal location for learning and practicing French.
Study programs & classes include: 2 weeks’ Summer French Programs: For Children & Teenagers (ages 10-17). French & Dance. French & Horse Riding...
Cambridge, England, UK
Reach Cambridge — Academic Camps (RC) — RC offers UK & international high school students the opportunity to gain an invaluable academic experience through a summer course. We provide unique and academic programs for students (ages 14-18).
Study programs & classes include: 3 weeks’ Summer Camps. Chemistry & Medicine. Computer Science & Math. Economics & ESL...
1. Why is Quebec the ideal location for learning and practicing French?| A．It offers summer French programs. |
| B．It is the only major city in Canada. |
| C．It has a Summer French Language School. |
| D．It has a 100% French-speaking environment. |
| A．LMFL. | B．FLC. | C．EI. | D．RC. |
| A．RC helps kids improve their horse-riding skill |
| B．kids can enjoy one-to-one training at LMFL |
| C．kids can stay at French host families at EI |
| D．FLC was founded in 1997 in France |
5 . Pokemon GO has become the most successful mobile game. It is now played in about 70 countries. While the game clearly has many fans, not everyone thinks the latest Pokemon fever is a good thing.
To play Pokemon GO, users follow maps on their phones that show virtual (虚拟的) animals, called Pokemon, in real-life places. Players have to walk around those places in search of Pokemon and try to catch as many as possible, which attracts kids most.
Fans of the game say it gets kids off the sofas and encourages them to play in new places and make new friends. That’s what Christine Elgersma, a senior app editor (编辑), thinks about it. And some educators are finding that Pokemon GO can also improve kids’ map skills.
Brain scientist Kristen Race says that kids pay so much attention to their phones that it doesn’t matter that they are outside. She warns that Pokemon GO gets in the way of real imaginative play. She argues that “even though a child may be playing this game outside, his brain is working in the same way it would as if he were spending hours inside. ”
There are some risks in playing Pokemon GO as well. Being distracted because of the game is one of the biggest dangers. People have walked into things, fallen down, and even been hit by cars while playing.
Elgersma says there are plenty of things kids can do to stay safe while playing Pokemon GO. She advises kids to discuss with their parents what they are allowed to do before playing. They should also pay careful attention to their surroundings (环境)and avoid talking to strangers. Finally, they should limit the amount of time they spend playing.
“Just like every other game, Pokemon GO should be used in balance with other things,” says Elgersma. “If it is, it can be a really great way for a family to have fun together.”
1. The greatest joy of playing Pokemon GO for kids is .| A．to learn knowledge of geography on maps |
| B．to look for Pokemon here and there and catch them |
| C．to hide themselves and not to be found by Pokemon |
| D．to travel around the world without going out of their rooms |
| A．kids had better play Pokemon GO outside |
| B．Pokemon GO is a big disaster for a family |
| C．parents should encourage kids to play Pokemon GO |
| D．Pokemon GO can’t really develop kids’ imagination |
| A．unfocused |
| B．intelligent |
| C．amazed |
| D．foolish |
| A．It is only popular with adults. |
| B．It can make kids fond of taking exercise. |
| C．It is dangerous for players in some way. |
| D．It probably sets up a home in people’s garden. |
6 . I work with Volunteers for Wildlife, a rescue and education organization at Bailey Arboretum in Locust Valley. Trying to help injured, displaced or sick creatures can be heartbreaking; survival is never certain. However, when it works, it is simply beautiful.
I got a rescue call from a woman in Muttontown. She had found a young owl(猫头鹰) on the ground. When I arrived, I saw a 2-to 3-week-old owl. It had already been placed in a carrier for safety.
I examined the chick(雏鸟) and it seemed fine. If I could locate the nest, I might have been able to put it back, but no luck. My next work was to construct a nest and anchor it in a tree.
The homeowner was very helpful. A wire basket was found. I put some pine branches into the basket to make this nest safe and comfortable. I placed the chick in the nest, and it quickly calmed down.
Now all that was needed were the parents, but they were absent. I gave the homeowner a recording of the hunger screams of owl chicks. These advertise the presence of chicks to adults; they might also encourage our chick to start calling as well. I gave the owner as much information as possible and headed home to see what news the night might bring.
A nervous night to be sure, but sometimes the spirits of nature smile on us all! The homeowner called to say that the parents had responded to the recordings. I drove over and saw the chick in the nest looking healthy and active. And it was accompanied in the nest by the greatest sight of all — LUNCH! The parents had done their duty and would probably continue to do so.
1. What is unavoidable in the author’s rescue work according to paragraph 1?| A．Efforts made in vain. |
| B．Getting injured in his work. |
| C．Feeling uncertain about his future. |
| D．Creatures forced out of their homes. |
| A．To rescue a woman. |
| B．To take care of a woman. |
| C．To look at a baby owl. |
| D．To cure a young owl. |
| A．A new nest. |
| B．Some food. |
| C．A recording. |
| D．Its parents. |
| A．It’s unexpected. |
| B．It’s beautiful. |
| C．It’s humorous. |
| D．It’s discouraging. |
7 . Many scholarships require that you write an essay in order to be considered for the prize money. However, if you are the sort of person that has a headache whenever you have to complete a writing assignment, this may not be the best news. Luckily for you, there is no reason to fear the scholarship essay. The following tips could help you conquer this not-so-easy aspect of the scholarship application process.
You should always outline your essays. This does not just apply to the scholarship essays, either. An outline helps lend focus to your thoughts and helps you create a picture of the “whole” that the essay will become. Judges cannot to stand when your writing is loose, lacks coherence(连贯性)or when you fail to connect your main points together. They want to see that you can support your argument well with clear and brief examples and that these examples do, in fact, relate to the topic at hand.
If you have a choice in the topic you get to write about, always try to select something you are personally interested in. Don't write what you think the judges want to hear. This will only amount in an essay that reads like someone else’s, which is not a great way to make yourself stand out.
If you feel bored with the topic, then your essay will be boring as well. Make sure your idea follow a clear and a logical path. This means they are connected well and the transitions(过渡) easily flow from one idea to the next. Likewise, try to stay away from the obvious or the sad story. Yes, college will be a life-changing experience, but can you think of an interesting reason why this is so? And yes, it is terrible that you lost a family member at a young age, but what does it have to do with winning this scholarship? Judges can smell sad stories from a mile away, so only pull at the heartstrings(动人心弦) if you have a proper reason for doing so.
1. When writing a scholarship essay, an outline is necessary because it helps you_____.| A．focus on the details of the essay |
| B．think more about the scholarship |
| C．make a picture of the whole essay |
| D．support your argument well |
| A．turns out to be loose |
| B．is short of coherence |
| C．is unable to connect to the main points |
| D．supports your argument with brief examples |
| A．The essay should include the obvious or the sad story. |
| B．You must keep your mind clear and logical. |
| C．You had better try to put an interesting story in it. |
| D．Try to say as much as you can about your family. |
| A．college students | B．judges in colleges |
| C．essay readers | D．company leaders |
8 . Over 40 years ago, a country music DJ convention (大会) was held every year in Nashville, Tennessee. Many country performers used to attend (参加) the convention to give their performances. Fans would go to Nashville hoping to see their favorite performers. In the end, so many fans began showing up in Nashville that a festival named Fan Fair was born.
The first Fan Fair was held in April 1972, in Nashville for four days. Some of country music's biggest stars attended. There were about fifty thousand fans. The first Fan Fair was so successful that planning began almost immediately for 1973. The date was changed to June, when the weather would be better. Over one hundred thousand fans attended the second Fan Fair.
Every year brought so many performers and fans to Fan Fair that, in 1982, it was moved to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. Fan Fair stayed at the fairgrounds for another nineteen years.
There was always the unexpected during the festival. In 1974, former Beatle Paul McCartney attended. In 1992, more than six hundred reporters from Europe, Asia, and South America went to cover the appearance of a popular star, Billy Ray Cyrus, who had introduced a new country line dance. In 1996, Garth Brooks, who made a surprise appearance, signed autographs (签名) for 23 hours.
In 2001, Fan Fair returned to downtown Nashville as the world's biggest country music festival. Now, over one hundred and twenty-five thousand country music fans go to Nashville every June. As you can imagine, those who want to attend Fan Fair must plan ahead. For example, they need to buy a ticket several months ahead of time. Of course, there’s much more to prepare.
1. According to the text, Fan Fair _____.| A．has a history of more than 50 years |
| B．lasts almost half a month every year |
| C．is the most important music festival in America |
| D．is a time when country music lovers get together |
| A．was held in the spring of 1972 |
| B．was more popular than the first one |
| C．was moved from Nashville to the fairgrounds |
| D．was attended by former Beatle Paul McCartney |
| A．show why Fan Fair has been popular |
| B．introduce three famous musicians |
| C．explain how Fan Fair started |
| D．ask people to attend Fan Fair |
| A．Advice for fans. |
| B．Music in America. |
| C．Education in Nashville. |
| D．The future of country music. |
9 . Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.
Born in September, 1897, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies’ two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sevigne in Paris.
At the age of 17 Irene entered the University of Paris to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities(设备) to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognized in the form of a Military’s Medal by the French government.
In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.
Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity(辐射能). Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956.
1. When did Irene Curie go to the University of Paris?| A．In 1897 | B．In 1914 |
| C．In 1918 | D．In 1924 |
| A．Marie Curie | B．Irene Curie |
| C．Frederic Joliet | D．Helene Joliot |
| A．She was the elder child of Marie Curie’s |
| B．She got a Military’s Medal because of her services to save the wounded |
| C．She met her husband at the Curie institute in 1924 |
| D．She developed leukemia but was cured |
| A．People | B．Society |
| C．Culture | D．History |
10 . Camp All-Star
One of a Kind Summer Camps for Kids
Welcome to Camp All-Star, your No. 1 summer sports camp for kids! Located on the famous Kents Hill School campus by the beautiful lake, Camp All-Star hosts kids from around the world. When thinking about your next overnight summer camp, consider the best—Camp All-Star!
Great Sports Summer Camps for Kids
Camp All-Star stands out among the successful camps in the U.S. We have the best sports fields and courts to make your child’s sports camp experience a successful one. Your child can enjoy playing for hours in any of our more than 30 sports and activities each day. Our camper to staff rate is three to one, which makes it possible for children to receive more careful instruction.
We have a wide variety of activities and sports to choose from: fishing, dance, basketball, soccer, baseball, and tennis. Boys and girls, aged 8-16, can customize their own schedules in our 2, 3, 4 or 6 week summer camp session for kids.
The aim of Camp All-Star is to develop athletic skills, encourage abilities in leadership, fair play and team work, and provide a fun, rewarding and memorable summer sports camp experience. Our staff have the experience and qualified training necessary to ensure that your child has a successful, memorable and enjoyable time at our summer camp.
Call Today About Our Overnight Summer Camps for Kids
Don’t let your kids waste another summer playing video games and sitting around. Let them enjoy their time and get some exercise at our exciting and friendly summer sports camp. Information for our upcoming camps can be found on our website. For additional information or questions, contact us today. We hope your kids can join us at Camp All-Star!
1. Camp All-Star stands out among the others because it ______.| A．is surrounded by a beautiful lake |
| B．provides various activities and sports |
| C．offers timely information on its website |
| D．allows children to play outside all day long |
| A．fire kids’ imagination | B．build up kids’ confidence |
| C．develop kids’ leadership skills | D．promote kids’ self-control |
| A．parents | B．coaches |
| C．staff | D．campers |
