1 . Motion picture, also called film or movie, series of sill photographs on film, projected in rapid succession onto a screen by means of light. This new art form became one of the most popular and influential media of the 20th century and beyond. In early twentieth-century France, a new form of entertainment was becoming a hit—motion pictures. People crowded into theatres for short, silent, black-and-white films that showed everyday happenings, such as a train pulling into a station. These images were dimly projected onto white sheets. Usually, there was no sound. Occasionally, men at pianos played music to match the scenes.
Later, with the introduction of colour and sound, the silent film soon disappeared. Colour and sound introduced a new world into the cinema and steadily grew more effective. It can be used to produce a powerful dramatic impression. Moving images at theatres are now no longer novel, but back at the beginning of the art form, surprises lurked around every corner. During the initial showings of basic silent movies, some people in the audience screamed in fear, reacting to what they saw as if it were happening in real life. Moviegoers were known to even leap out of their seats due to the trains on the screen. At that time, few people understood what motion pictures were, so audience members could easily be fooled.
Today, people crowd into theatres for the latest 3D movies. Even older movies, such as the popular Star Wars series, are being re-released in 3D. Moviemakers are excited about the ability to involve the audience more directly in the story or film. In addition, theatres invest tens of thousands of dollars on high-quality audio systems so that everything from the safest whispers to the largest explosions sounds clear and realistic. Sound, dialogue, and music are used in combination not only with one another but also with the visual image. They can overlap and vary in intensity in a flexible and complex pattern with those high-quality audio systems.
What will movies be like 100 years from now? Will audience be able to smell scents in the films, taste the food that characters are eating, or even become part of the stories themselves? Only time will tell.
1. What can we know about the motion pictures in early 20th century France?| A．They were in color. |
| B．They were the main form of entertainment. |
| C．They greatly appealed to people then. |
| D．They often had background music. |
| A．Because the movies were too scary. |
| B．Because they didn't see trains in real life. |
| C．Because the old theaters were too crowded. |
| D．Because audiences were unfamiliar with the movies. |
| A．To re-release more old movies. |
| B．To develop movie-making technologies. |
| C．To improve movie-goers' experience. |
| D．To make the explosions safe. |
| A．To explain how realistic movies are today. |
| B．To tell something about future movie plans. |
| C．To introduce the history of movie technology. |
| D．To compare movie theatres over the last century. |
2 . As the world's population continues to increase, so does the amount of global waste. According to data (数据) collected by the World Bank Group, nations are on pace to produce 4 billion tons of waste every year by 2100. Many experts are calling the problem of global waste a worldwide health crisis (危机) because the waste is polluting the world’s oceans, air and soil and is putting the health of all living things in danger.
For years, governments have been telling citizens that living a zero-waste lifestyle is the way to go. Now some stores are helping people do that.
Most grocery stores produce waste when they throw away food and packing material. In some cases, the food consists of fruit and vegetables that don’t look good any more. In other cases, it's packaged food that is nearing the "sell-by" date printed on the package. After the “sell-by” date passed, the food is not considered safe to eat. Thus, many stores throw out unsold packaged food before that date arrives.
To solve this problem, business people are opening smaller grocery stores. Instead of selling food in packages, these stores offer it in open containers (容器). Customers bring their own bags or clean containers to the store. There, they fill their bags or containers with everything from nuts and grains to oil and vinegar. They pay for only the amount of each product that they need. Zero-waste stores often sell fruit and vegetables as well. When these goods start to look old, they're sold at a cheaper price or given to the poor people. Inspired by these smaller zero-waste grocery stores, some large supermarkets are taking similar steps to reduce the amount of waste that they produce.
1. How does the writer begin this article?| A．By giving some detailed examples. |
| B．By reporting the results of experiments. |
| C．By discussing a major source of pollution. |
| D．By explaining an international agreement. |
| A．Because they have gone bad. | B．Because they don't look fresh. |
| C．Because they pass the "sell-by" date. | D．Because they near the "sell-by" date. |
| A．Empty baskets. | B．Old newspapers. | C．Large cupboards. | D．Plastic toys. |
| A．They're building up partnerships with smaller stores. |
| B．They're following the example set by smaller stores. |
| C．They're putting several smaller stores out of business. |
| D．They're demanding that officials control smaller stores. |
3 . It may seem as if Mother's Day was invented by a company named Hallmark, but people have been taking time on the calendar to give a shout-out to Mom for a long time. The Greeks and Romans had mother goddess festivals — although their celebrations didn't involve the menfolk taking their underappreciated mothers out to dinner. A more recent tradition was Mothering Sunday, which developed in the British Isles during the 16th century. On the fourth Sunday in April, young men and women who were living and working apart from their families were advised to return to their mothers’ houses.
Mother's Day as it is observed in the United States started in the 1850s with Ann Jarvis, a West Virginia woman who held “Mothers' Work Days” to promote health and hygiene(卫生 ) at home and in the workplace. During the Civil War, Jarvis organized women to improve sanitary conditions for soldiers on both sides, and after the war she became a peacemaker, furthering the cause by bringing together mothers of Union and Confederate soldiers and promoting a Mother's Day holiday.
Jarvis's work inspired another 19th-century woman, Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe published her “Mother's Day Proclamation”, which envisioned(设想) the day not as appreciation of mothers by their children but as an opportunity for women to exercise their collective power for peace. Howe started holding annual Mother's Day celebrations in Boston, her hometown, but after about a decade she stopped footing the bill and the tradition faded away.
It was Jarvis's daughter Anna who succeeded in getting Mother’s Day recognized as a national holiday. After her mother died, in May 1905, Anna started holding yearly ceremony on the anniversary and conducting a tireless PR campaign to have the day made a holiday. In 1908 she succeeded in enlisting the support of John Wanamaker, the Philadelphia department store magnate and advertising pioneer, and by 1912 West Virginia and a few other states had adopted Mother's Day. Two years later, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution declaring the second Sunday in May a national holiday.
It wasn't long, though, before whatever ideals the day was supposed to celebrate were buried under an amount of greeting cards and candy. By the 1920s Anna Jarvis was campaigning against the holiday she had been instrumental in creating. “I wanted it to be a day of emotionalism, not profit,” she said.
1. It can be inferred from the first paragraph that .| A．mothers didn't get enough appreciation in the past |
| B．Mother's Day was invented by Hallmark |
| C．young people all returned to their mothers' houses |
| D．Greeks and Romans were the first to celebrate Mother's Day |
| A．Ann Jarvis. | B．Julia Ward Howe. |
| C．Woodrow Wilson. | D．Anna Jarvis. |
| A．Because it was extremely emotional. |
| B．Because the festival was not profitable. |
| C．Because the celebrations went against the original spirit. |
| D．Because the day was celebrated in the form of exchanging greeting cards and candy. |
| A．The Definition of Mother’s Day |
| B．The Argument on Celebrating Mother's Day |
| C．The Story Behind the Creation of Mother's Day |
| D．Different Forms of Celebration on Mother's Day |
4 . People speak English in different parts of the world. The same words can be used in different ways, depending on where you live. People can also have completely different ways of saying the same thing.
The Oxford English Dictionary(OED) is asking the public to help it add new words. Editors want to find the regional differences in English around the world. They want to expand its record of the language.
Last year, the OED, BBC Radio and the Forward Arts Foundation teamed up to find local words in the United Kingdom. It resulted in more than 100 regional words and phrases being added to the dictionary. One was “cuddy winter”, which means a left-handed person.
Now, the OED is widening its search to English speakers around the world. Eleanor Maier, an editor at OED, said the response has been great. Editors are listing a bunch of suggestions to include in the dictionary.
These include Hawaii's “hammajang” which means “in a disorderly state”. Another is the word for a swimming costume, " lookers" or “duckers”. It is used in Scotland.
The OED also might include the word “ frog-drowner” , which Americans might use to describe a downpour of rain. Another possibility is “brick”. It means “very cold” to people in New Jersey and New York City.
The dictionary has already found that, depending on location, a picture hanging off center might be described as “agley”. It might also be called “catawampous” or “ahoo”.
“The OED aims to cover all types of English,” Maier said. That includes scientific words, slang and regional language. Maier also said that it can be difficult for the OED's editors to identify regional words. The terms are more often spoken than written down.
The appeal is called Words Where You Are. It is looking for more suggestions. “We were surprised and pleased by the number of regional words we were able to include,” said Maier.
1. "Cold" is closest in meaning to .| A．hammajang | B．dockers | C．brick | D．ahoo |
| A．agley | B．frog-drowner | C．cuddy winter | D．brick |
| A．It is challenging to create a complete collection of regional words. |
| B．People pay little attention to the appeal for regional words. |
| C．People use regional words only when they are home or with close friends. |
| D．Having an understanding of regional words can be helpful when communicating. |
| A．It's time to trace the source of local words. |
| B．The same English words can be used to say different things. |
| C．Oxford Dictionary aims to enlarge its collection to appeal to locals. |
| D．Oxford Dictionary will include more regional words from around the globe. |
5 . Stories are a powerful way to communicate. We all learn through stories. I’ve raised a three-step formula anyone can use to create powerful stories that will help you make your point. First, identify your truth. Second, think of the decisive experiences that have led you to this "truth". Third, shape those experiences into a story that you can tell at the drop of a hat. Here’s an example of how I have used this formula.
Years ago, I had an assignment to conduct a team-building session. The client was my friend. I arrived at his office 5: 00 p. m. the day before our session. He asked me if I had an agenda for tomorrow’s meeting. I told him that, first we'll do A, then B, followed by C. We’ll finish up with D. Still he asked if I had an agenda.
At first, I thought he hadn’t been listening to what I just said, so I repeated myself, "First we'll do A, then B, followed by C. We’ll finish up with D. "He said," Yes, I know. That's what you just said. Do you have an agenda?
At that point, it dawned on me that he was looking for a printed agenda. I said, "No, but we really don't need one. I’ve done many meetings like this. It will go fine.” He said, “I’m not comfortable winging it.” So we created an agenda using Powerpoint. The next day, the meeting went off smoothly. We followed the agenda I had in my head and he had on the PowerPoint slide. Everyone agreed it was one of the best meetings of this type they had ever attended.
It became clear to me that if I want to influence not just this client, but anyone, I need to adapt my communication style to theirs. From that day on, I modify my communication style to meet the needs of the other person.
1. What does Paragraph 1 mainly talk about?| A．How to form powerful stories | B．Stories come from experiences. |
| C．How to communicate with powerful stories. | D．Stories play an important part in communication. |
| A．By listing figures. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By making remarks. | D．By presenting research findings. |
| A．The author winged it. |
| B．The author's friend used Powerpoint. |
| C．The author and his friend created an agenda separately. |
| D．The author and his friend made an agenda using Powerpoint. |
| A．Adopt | B．Follow | C．Change | D．Create |
6 . Adopt, don’t shop
Come to our pet adoption drive and meet our adorable residents. Help us find these animals a home! If you would like to find out more about adopting our animals, please visit our website @www.adoptadog.org.sg.
Activities
Talk by SPCA (12pm to 1pm)
Find out if you have what it takes to adopt a pet and why adopting is better than buying a pet.
Dog Show by K9 Club (1pm to 2pm)
Be amazed at the tricks performed by dogs from the K9 Club.
The story of Kit Kat the dog
The first time the rescuers met kit Kat, we recalled in shock and our hearts instantly went out to him. At his tender age, life had already dealt him so many harsh blows. Not only was he left to care for himself in the wild, but he also suffered pain with a horrific rash (皮疹).
Kit Kat was first brought to our attention by Anna, one of our volunteers. Kit Kat was said to be frightened of people and we eventually managed to put a leash (皮带) on Kit Kat and take him to the vet after a few days’ effort of tricking him with treats. He was well padded and his coat, though matted (无光泽的), was in good condition. Kit Kat also had good oral health.
Now on the mend, Kit Kat boasts a coat of soft, glossy fur and shows no signs of the pain he suffered from. While we have managed to heal his body, we have not been able to do the same for his broken spirit. However, we believe that with the right family and the right environment, Kit Kat will be able to flourish and shake off his sad past.
1. Why were the rescuers shocked the first time they met Kit Kat?| A．He was a very old dog. | B．He refused to be put on a leash. |
| C．He had a terrible skin condition. | D．He was a wild and aggressive dog. |
| A．is now a cheerful dog | B．has been cleared of his rash |
| C．is no longer scared of people | D．has matured into an adult dog |
| A．ask for volunteers and donations |
| B．help abandoned animals find new owners |
| C．teach dog owners how to be responsible pet owners |
| D．encourage the public to give up their pets for adoption |
7 . That morning, I dropped our eldest at kindergarten and returned home to let our two younger children play while I worked on my medical report. It was a wonderful chance to work from home, but it hit me that my career in hospital wasn't making a difference in anyone's life. I needed something that would stretch my limits and push me to grow. My career enabled me to work from home. I could work from home, and become a foster mother, providing safety for a child who needed it desperately.
On Monday morning. I picked up the phone and dialed the number I had Googled for the nearest Department of Children's Services. The man on the other end was receptive to my questions and explained the next step of training, involving eight weeks of classes designed to prepare and educate foster parents. We continued through all the classes, the home visits, background checks, and seemingly endless steps.
Five long months after we were approved, the phone rang. In the middle of the night, I woke my husband and rushed to East Tennessee Children's Hospital. Our placement was waiting for us in the emergency room, sick and lack of nutrition. It didn't take long for us to realize the full depth of her suffering. Six months later, her half-brother came to us by our request. We now had five children under our care.
On August 12, 2016, our family of seven walked into a small courtroom. The children's lawyer and social worker were there. With just a few words, our adoption was finalized. These two amazing children weren't going home, because they were already home. We are their forever family, and they are our forever children. We may not be able to change the entire world, but we have changed the world entirely for our new children.
1. How did the author feel about her hospital work?| A．Lacking of motivation. | B．Filled with challenge. |
| C．Highly motivating. | D．Unusually Demanding. |
| A．She felt sympathetic for abused children she knew. |
| B．She wanted to make a difference in other people. |
| C．She felt confident about her ability to raise children. |
| D．She experienced training to raise children properly. |
| A．The child to be adopted. | B．The need to get trained. |
| C．The approval of adoption. | D．The official at the hospital. |
| A．To put the adopted kids elsewhere. | B．To receive another adopted child. |
| C．To make the adoption officially legal. | D．To begin the kids' adoption in her home. |
8 . We moved to Elmont in 1956. I was 4 years old. Elmont was a wonderful place to grow up. There were lots of kids，great schools and we had a big yard. Having grown up a city kid, my father, Nicholas Denaro, believed that grass was not just to look at, but that children were meant to play on it. We played games and badminton there. A white fence separated our backyard from a small wood. My friends and I jumped the fence and climbed trees.
My father had the most amazing hands. He could fix anything. He gave those amazing hands to his son, my younger brother, Frank, who also became handy around the house. But my father saved his green fingers for me. He grew flowers, tomatoes, strawberries and figs and he shared his love of gardening with me.
Fourteen years ago, I went to a local nursery and purchased a fig tree for Dad for Father’s Day. My mother, Bridget Denaro, called it the best gift I could have given him. He planted it exactly in the middle of the front yard.
He loved that tree and enjoyed delicious figs every year, except just after Sandy hit in 2012. He was so disappointed when cold weather just after the superstorm froze all the remaining figs.
In 2015，my father died of aspirating pneumonia (呼吸性肺炎) at 97. We sold our family home of 61years last year. We left behind Dad's tree, full of figs waiting to ripen. We briefly-considered taking it with us, but decided that his Father's Day fig tree belonged in Elmont. The new owners generously allowed me to take some branches so that I could have a precious reminder of my much-loved father and the Elmont home.
1. What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?| A．She grew up in a city. | B．She only liked climbing trees. |
| C．She had a happy childhood. | D．She was naughty and stubborn. |
| A．How to garden well. | B．How to play games. |
| C．How to color fingers. | D．How to fix everything. |
| A．He was ill in hospital. | B．The cold hit the fig tree. |
| C．The tree didn’t bear figs. | D．He moved to another city. |
| A．To show her love of figs. | B．To share her childhood. |
| C．To remember her father. | D．To introduce her experience. |
9 . University-the best days of my life!I made lots of friends in my student dorm，went to great parties，joined the debating society…and，well，I did some work too--but I must admit my lecturers were very patient with my tardiness（拖拉）．
It's easy to look back at our university days through rose-tinted spectacles but the truth is that when we first arrived on campus，most of us were out of our comfort zone．
In fact，a survey of students at Imperial College London has revealed that 3out of 4students experience high levels of stress，or a mental health condition，during their time at college．The survey，completed by over a thousand students，also found that 70% of those that experience stress do so at least once a week，and 9% of students feel stressed constantly．
Kirsty，a student at Exeter University，didn't enjoy her first days in college．She says："When I first got to university I don't think I'd realized that I'd forgotten how to make friends．I'd been with the same school friends for seven years，and so I was trying to balance social success with academic success while learning how to look after myself at quite a young age．"
Dr Ruth Caleb of the counseling service at Brunel University in London has some tips that should make life easier for students before they set off for university．She says："Certain things that I think it would be very helpful for students to have put in place are an ability to do the practical things of life--to do the washing，to do the cleaning and so on-being able to cook．Budgeting is extremely important in university life．"And Caleb adds："You should learn how to spend time on your own comfortably．"
I graduated and learnt how to take care of myself the hard way．I hope that new students these days remember to acquire some life skills before they make the big jump．
1. What did Kirsty find most difficult to do during her first days in college？| A．Not knowing how to make new friends． | B．Not realizing the importance of making friends． |
| C．Looking after herself at quite an early age． | D．Trying to achieve academic success． |
| A．having the ability to cook | B．being able to do the cleaning |
| C．learning how to spend money on one's own | D．balancing social success and academic success |
| A．During the first few days at college for new students，most of them felt comfortable． |
| B．According to a survey，most students at Imperial College London suffered from stress at college． |
| C．The lecturers are always tolerant of college students' improper behavior． |
| D．Acquiring some life skills isn't that important to new students． |
| A．He quickly adapted to the new environment when he first arrived on campus． |
| B．He graduated from college with many achievements． |
| C．It might have taken him some time to get used to college life． |
| D．It might have made him proud by leading an independent life at college． |
10 . The Master Gardener Foundation
Aim
The Master Gardener Foundation provides free information to the public on environmentally safe gardening practices and water conservation. The information is research-based and encourages limited use of farm chemicals and fertilizers.
Donation Activities
The master gardeners here did much donation work. They donated over 35,000 volunteer hours, serving 40,000 adults and more than 5,200 children. They did this through about 35 plant clinics, 6 demonstration gardens, 4 youth gardens, as well as a classroom program and dozens of workshops. The Master Gardener Foundation provides roughly two-thirds of the financial support for all these valuable activities.
Washington State University currently provides the salary and benefits of the Master Gardener Program. The foundation funds office space and supplies, as well as a part-time program assistant.
The Master Gardener Program
Safe and green gardening and water use practices are vital to preserving our environment. The Master Gardener Program seeks to provide this kind of education and information to the citizens for free. It is a highly successful example of cooperation between a foundation and volunteers.
Waiting for Your Donations
The Master Gardener Foundation is a non-profit organization, and all donations are allowed by law and support the Master Gardener Program and activities.
Please consider a donation to the Master Gardener Foundation and help keep our environment green!
1. What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．Science research. | B．Adopting children. |
| C．Donation work. | D．Contributing money. |
| A．It’s very expensive. |
| B．It proves to be unsuccessful. |
| C．It provides education just in producing farm chemicals. |
| D．It’s a bridge between the foundation and volunteers. |
| A．To encourage donations. |
| B．To describe volunteer work. |
| C．To spread the agricultural knowledge. |
| D．To give some suggestions to gardeners. |
