2 . Work is a part of living—my grandparents understood that. They lived and worked on a central Pennsylvania farm that has been in my family for 150 years. Hess Farm, at that time, was self-sufficient. They raised beef cattle for meat, chickens for eggs and hogs for pork and lard. Dairy cows were kept for milk and the cream from which Grandma made butter and cheese. That little yard they had became a garden.

The Depression, therefore, didn’t make a dramatic change in their lives. But it did bring an unending flow of men out of work, drifting from job to job, to the farm. The first man to show up on the kitchen porch was ragged-looking, but polite. He took off his hat and quietly explained that he hadn’t eaten for a while. Grandpa stood watching him a bit, then said, “There’s a pile of firewood stacked against the fence behind the barn (畜棚). I’ve been needing to get it moved to the other side of the fence. You have just about enough time to finish the job before lunch.” With that, he stuck out his rough hand to the stranger.

Grandma said a surprising thing happened. The drifter got a shine in his eyes and, behind his beard, he smiled. He hurried to the barn in a near trot (小跑). She set another place at the table and baked an apple pie. During lunch, the stranger didn’t say much, but his shoulders straightened when he left. “Nothing ruins a man like losing his self-respect”, Grandpa later told me.

Soon after, another man showed up asking for a meal. This one was dressed in a suit and carried a small, worn suitcase. Grandpa came out and then offered a handshake. “There’s a stack of firewood along the fence down behind the barn I’ve been meaning to get moved. It’d sure be a help to me. And we’d be pleased to have you stay for lunch.”

The fellow set his suitcase and neatly laid his coat and vest on top. Then he set off to work.

Grandma says she doesn’t remember how many strangers they shared a meal with during those Depression days—or how many times that pile of wood got moved.

1. What is the result of the Depression?

A．Some people earned a lot of money.

B．A large number of people went abroad.

C．Many people were laid off.

D．Quite a few people died of a strange disease.

2. Which of the following best describes the grandpa?

A．He pretended to be generous.

B．He pretended to be mean.

C．He shared meal with everyone who came to his door.

D．He gave meal to the poor without losing their self-respect.

3. How many strangers did Grandpa and Grandma share a meal with during those days?

A．They shared a meal with only two people.

B．They shared a meal with twenty people.

C．The passage doesn’t mention the number.

D．They didn’t share a meal with anyone.

4. What can we know about the stranger from the underlined sentence?

A．The stranger was full after lunch.

B．The stranger earned his bread through his own work.

C．The stranger wanted to show his gratitude.

D．The stranger wanted to stretch his body.

3 . I was new to this high school, and to the students it served. I settled into my seat at the front of the classroom. Of the thirty students, I counted just 10 in their seats. The students didn’t seem to want to be there. They sat in their chairs, staring out of the window.

The back door opened heavily. After Mike came Belinda. No apologies, no explanations. “Things will get better, ” I told myself, and began the first lesson. Perhaps because I was nervous, I ran through the material more quickly than I should have. “Wait, ” interrupted Mike. “I didn’t pay good money to come to a school where the teacher doesn’t explain things clearly.” It was forty-five minutes before class ended, but I couldn’t go any further. In all my years of teaching, I’d never had a class like this.

The next day I got to school early as usual. This time the students showed up on time, but half the students didn’t take notes. They acted as if they were sitting there to meet a requirement.

Why couldn’t I reach them?

“You try picturing them being happy and successful,” my husband advised.

The next day, I pictured each student listening, taking notes, raising their hands and learning. Then at school, my eyes moved from chair to chair. I thought about how hard they worked during the day, studying late into the night or whenever they had a spare moment.

Things started to change. During the break, Mark even volunteered to help me set up my materials. Belinda stayed focused, quietly taking notes.

At our last class Mike handed me a thank-you card signed by every student. One comment stood out: “It took me a while, but I found I enjoyed your class. Nothing could take away the joy I got from my experience. Thank you, Belinda.” My eyes were filled with tears.

1. How about the students first mentioned in the text?

A．They were cool and polite.	B．They were all promising.
C．They were never late for the class.	D．They were almost absent from class.

2. What can we learn about the author?

A．She wasn’t new to teaching.	B．She loved educated students.
C．She can’t explain things clearly.	D．She was given a warm welcome.

3. Why were the author’s eyes full of tears at last?

A．She felt heartbroken for her students’ failure.

B．She couldn’t tear herself away from her students.

C．All her efforts to teach her students paid off.

D．Everything about the students was unchangable.

4 . For decades, world wars and fears of a brave new world have made British workers very anxious. Yet it appears that the rise of robots has been overestimated, according to new data. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) published a series of data which showed that far fewer jobs are at risk of replacement by robots than previously thought.

In 2017, out of the 19.9 million jobs analyzed in England, 7. 4 percent of people were employed in jobs at high risk of replacement. This marked a fall of 0.7 percent less than in 2011. However, the number of employees that were in jobs at low risk of replacement in 2017 was 27.7 percent of all employees, a rise of 2.4 percent since 2011.

The ONS found that the three jobs with the highest possibility of replacement are waiters and waitresses, shelf fillers and the most basic sales jobs. As expected, regular things in a fixed order and repeated tasks can be carried out more quickly and efficiently by an algorithm(计算程序) written by a human, or a machine designed for specific functions. Therefore, the risk of replacement in such jobs is to be higher.

However, the three jobs at the lowest risk of replacement are doctors, higher education professionals and senior education professionals. Furthermore, while the general number of jobs has increased, most of these are jobs that are at low or medium (中等的) risk, suggesting that the labour market may be changing to jobs that require more complex skills.

Alessandro, an expert in AI, said he was not surprised by the fall in jobs which were at risk. “When something like technology becomes fashionable, there's a rise in major expectations. Our expectation reaches the highest point, and then it comes back down to a more realistic level,” he added.

1. What do data in paragraph 2 mainly want to show?

A．Robots are helpful to job market.

B．The future of robots looks bright,

C．Robots have better performance than people.

D．The threat of job replacement by robots isn't as serious as expected.

2. What's the finding of the ONS in paragraph 3?

A．Regular and repeated tasks are likely to be replaced.

B．The work of service will no longer exist.

C．More people prefer working on computers.

D．Jobs with lower pay will totally be replaced by machines.

3. What is Alessandro's attitude towards the finding shown in the text?

A．Doubtful.	B．Uncertain.
C．Supportive.	D．Critical.

4. What is the suitable title for the text?

A．Most Jobs Are Being Replaced by Robot

B．Jobs Replaced by Robots Are Fewer Than Thought

C．People's Anxiety on Education

D．The Robot Application on Education Industry

5 . Kids Nature and Survival Camp

Set free your kids’ imagination and spirit of adventure at this camp, as they learn about the natural environment and the important skills of survival.

Activity overview

* 44-day Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains

* Basic Survival Skills: Shelter, Water, Fire, Food

* Expert Instructors-with a minimum of 10 years of experience

* Set your own custom(定制的) camp date

Details

* The camp will run for 5 hours each day: 9 am-2 pm.

* This class is 100% hands-on and very active. Everything your kids learn, they will do—no indoor classrooms or long lectures.

* Each day will center around one of the 4 main necessities of survival: SHELTER(day 1). WATER(day 2), FIRE(day 3), and FOOD(day 4).

Dates offered

* We offer 1 public camp date each summer for ages 8-12. For 2021, that date is August 5-8(9 am-2 pm each day). To book that date for a child between the ages of 8-12, please click the REGISTER NOW link below.

* We also arrange custom/private camp dates for both kids and teens all year round.

Extra information

* 4-Day Camp: $395

* Add shuttle(班车) ride to/from downtown Santa Cruz for $160($40 per day)

* At this time we do not have shuttle service from the Silicon Valley side of the hill, but we do work to help organize carpools(拼车) from the Los Gatos/Saratoga/Campbell area each year for interested parents.

1. What will kids learn if they join the camp?

A．How to make long lectures.	B．How to survive in the wild.
C．How to organize a camp.	D．How to improve their imagination.

2. What’s special about the class of camp?

A．It is free for all children.	B．Children could learn it online.
C．It is based on practicing in person to learn.	D．Kids could hook a public camp date each spring.

3. Which of the following provides shuttle service?

A．Los Gatos.

B．Santa Cruz.

C．Saratoga.

D．Campbell.

6 . When most people hear the words “Big Ben” they immediately think of the attractive Victorian Gothic structure of the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster. Let’s clear up a common misunderstanding first; technically speaking, the name “Big Ben” does not refer to the famous tower, nor to the four huge clock faces of this London landmark; instead, it refers to the largest one of the five bells inside the clock tower.

Construction of the tower was begun following the disastrous fire which destroyed the old Palace of Westminster in 1834. Charles Barry was responsible for rebuilding the Palace, and his designs included a clock tower.

It took 16 years to build the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster and it was completed in 1859. The tower is 316 feet high. The spire of the tower is built with an iron frame, and it is this frame which supports the weight of the bells. Several small rooms are built into the lower part of the tower, including a small prison cell.

The iron frame of the clock face was designed by AW Pugin, who was responsible for many of the Gothic decorative elements of the Palace of Westminster. The dials are 23 feet in diameter and the faces themselves are not solid, but are made up of many small pieces of opal glass, like a glass window. Several of the central pieces of glass can be removed to make it easier for people to check the hands of the clock from inside.

At the time of its construction the clock movement was easily the largest in the world, and it is still among the largest today. The clock, designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, has proven to be very accurate over the years.

Big Ben — the hour bell — is said to have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who was known for his great size, as is the bell! The first Big Ben hour bell was completed before the tower, so the bell was hung in New Palace Yard. After repeated public ringing the bell cracked and had to be replaced by the current bell.

1. The name “Big Ben” actually refers to ____.

A．the famous tower	B．the huge clock faces
C．the biggest bell inside	D．the designer of the tower

2. From the text, we know that the clock tower ___________.

A．was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison	B．was built in 1844
C．is more than 300 feet high	D．has no rooms in it

3. What is the benefit of the opal glass clock faces?

A．Opal glass is cheaper than solid materials.	B．The huge body makes it much easier to see.
C．The glass is solid enough.	D．Pieces of glass can be removed to check the hands.

4. From the text, we can infer that ________.

A．Sir Benjamin Hall was a famous architect	B．the first hour bell has worked till now
C．the bells are hung inside the spire of the tower	D．the clock is not accurate now

7 . When it comes to the greatest inventions of the world, China's name is sure to be mentioned several times. There are hundreds of things which were invented by the Chinese.

Alcohol

Shocked? It was because when they said alcohol I thought about either the US or the UK. China had never crossed my mind. In China, alcohol was made by two legendary persons named Yi Di and Du Kang who belonged to the Xia Dynasty. This period was about 2000 BC—1600 BC. Research says that in ancient China, beer with 4% alcoholic content was widely consumed by people.

Tea

China is the proud inventor of tea which was first drunk by Shen Nong, a Chinese emperor around 2737 BC. Tea production was rapidly developed, making tea a popular drink during the Tang and Song Dynasties.

The Mechanical Clock

Have you ever wondered what on earth we would be doing without any idea of time? A clock really is an invention without which things were incomplete. The credit of making the first mechanical clock goes to ancient China. The first mechanical clock was invented by Yi Xing in the Tang Dynasty. This was during 618 AD and 907 AD.

Silk Fabric

Silk, the favorite fabric of many girls out there, is also a Chinese invention. Although we all know that silk is made by silkworms, it was Chinese people who first invented a way to harvest the silk and then use it to make clothes. The oldest silk which has been found so far is in Henan Province and dates back to 3630 BC.

1. What can we learn from paragraph 2?

A．Beer was popular in the Xia Dynasty.	B．Yi Di and Du Kang invented alcohol.
C．Alcohol was first invented in the US.	D．It is well known that alcohol is a Chinese invention.

2. The author asks the question in paragraph 4 to show          .

A．ancient Chinese inventors were wiser	B．many things in our lives are incomplete
C．ancient Chinese people never wasted time	D．the mechanical clock is an important invention

3. Which of the following inventions has a longer history?

A．Silk fabric.	B．Tea.
C．Alcohol.	D．The mechanical clock.

8 . Music and art festivals are fun and exciting events. If you're panning to go to a festival, it's important to plan your trip carefully to ensure that you re safe and have a good time.

■Bring clothes to keep warm or cool

In addition to your fun festival clothing, pack a raincoat, some light tank tops, and a sweater or sweatshirt. Don't forget longer pants for cool evenings or bad weather. In general, it's best to leave your umbrella at home because they can be dangerous in large crowds.

■Get a cheap tent and sleeping bag for multi - day festivals

A majority of people end up throwing their tent away after long festivals, since they normally break from the use. Pick up a less expensive tent with enough room for you and your friends and pack a comfortable seeping bag for yourself, 1f you don't want to camp at the festival, remember to book an AirBnb or a hotel room nearby!

■Place a first aid kit in a proper place

Before the festival, buy a small first aid kit with band aids, and any medication that you need to take, in case you get minor injuries or a headache. Keep it in a proper place that's easily accessible, like your tent or car.

1. Why should umbrellas be left at home?

A．They take up too much space.	B．The weather will be terrible.
C．They might hurt someone.	D．Travelers prefer raincoats,

2. What do most people do with tents after festivals?

A．Sell them.

B．Return them.

C．Pack them up.

D．Throw them away.

3. What is suggested about the first aid kit?

A．It should be put at hand.	B．It ought to be big enough.
C．It must contain all medicines.	D．It has to be placed in the car.

9 . Japanese fans who watched their national team be defeated by the Ivory Coast on Saturday showed it is possible to lose graciously (优雅地), when they stayed behind after the match to help clean up.

Despite seeing Japan's Blue Samurais lose 2-1 against the Ivory Coast' s national team at the Arena Perambuco in Recife, the Japanese audience armed with plastic bags searched their side of the stadium and gathered up dropped litter. While gathering waste after a sporting event is customary in Japan, the audience' s actions came as a shock to football fans from other countries.

This isn't the first time the Japanese have taken trash outside the stadium. The 1998 FIFA World Cup held in France was the first ever World Cup that Japan had qualified for. After their first group game against Argentina, the Japanese fans gave the world a lesson in politeness and respect by actually cleaning the football stadium seats. They picked up all the trash around them whether it was theirs or not. They then walked out and threw the trash in the garbage cans before leaving.

The all-around cleanliness of Japanese large cities comes as a culture shock to people coming from other big cities in the world. This tidiness is not due to millions of dollars spent on street cleaners and "Let's clean-up our city" campaigns. It's not due to effective public works or community service. It's due to one simple thing: They don't throw their rubbish on the floor. This unique and rare concept allows for both huge cities and the countryside to stay neat and tidy.

To reinforce this behavior, the common signs in Japan ask people to take their litter home with them. Then, to reinforce the sign, hey usually have no garbage cans in the parks. So when faced with the choice of throwing their garbage on the ground or keeping it with them, they keep it. They don’t need a “Don't Litter” or Keep Japan beautiful” sign. They have been doing it their whole lives and are used to taking their garbage with them.

1. The story in Paragraph 3 mainly shows that___________.

A．Japanese people are used to carrying their own trash

B．Japanese fans have a habit of cleaning up the stadium

C．Japanese fans often clean stadium seats before the game

D．the Japanese are very interested in watching football games

2. What can we say about Japanese big cities' cleanliness?

A．It has become common practice.	B．It is the result of community service.
C．It costs millions of dollars every year.	D．It exists because of public campaigns.

3. Which of the following do the Japanese accept as normal?

A．Punishing the behavior of littering.	B．Many signs reading "Don't Litter"."
C．Lots of garbage cans in the parks.	D．Taking litter away with them.

4. The author's attitude to the Japanese audience might be that of____________.

A．criticism

B．unconcern

C．respect

D．doubt

10 . Life under lockdown is strange and lonely but people are finding ways to come together and support those in need by volunteering. Here are just a few more ways you can take part in.

NHS Responders

After asking retired medical professionals to return to work, the government has also put out a call for 250,000 volunteers to support the NHS (National Health System). You can apply to be a community response volunteer, collecting and delivering supplies for those in isolation; a patient transport volunteer, helping patients who are dismissed from hospital get home and settled; and an NHS transport volunteer, to assist with delivery of medical supplies.

GAIL'S Bakery

As well as baking breads and pastries for the general public, GAJL's is supplying front-line NHS teams with fresh food, and they need more help to get it where it needs to be. If you want to lend a hand, drop them an email.

Re-engage

Re-engage is a voluntary group that helps reduce loneliness among old people and given that so many people are isolated because of the virus outbreak, they need more volunteers to become call companions. If you want to join them in the telephone befriending service, contact them at 18112256.

A Plate For London

This online platform helps match volunteers with Londoners in need . Now they are focusing on doorstep deliveries of food parcels and hot meals to children who rely on free school meals and those who have lost their jobs as a result of the widespread disease.

1. What is the duty of a patient transport volunteer?

A．Picking up patients.	B．Sending patients home.
C．Moving patients to clinics.	D．Delivering supplies for patients.

2. Which volunteer group especially cares for the senior?

A．NHS Responders.	B．GAIL’s Bakery.
C．Re-engage.	D．A Plate For London.

3. Who may be offered food by the online platform?

A．The aged.	B．The volunteers.
C．The patients.	D．The unemployed.