1 . Imagine eating everything delicious you want – with none of the fat. That would be great, wouldn’t it?
New "fake fat" products appeared on store shelves in the United States recently, but not everyone is happy about it. Makers of the products, which contain a compound called olestra, say food manufacturers can now eliminate fat from certain foods. Critics, however, say the new compound can rob the body of essential vitamins and nutrients and can also cause unpleasant side effects in some people. So it’s up to consumers to decide whether the new fat-free products taste good enough to keep eating.
Chemists discovered olestra in the late 1960s, when they were searching for a fat that could be digested by infants more easily. Instead of finding the desired fat, the researchers created a fat that can’t be digested at all.
Normally, special chemical in the intestines（肠）"grab" molecules of regular fat and break them down so they can be used by the body. A molecule of regular fat is made up of three molecules of substances called fatty acids.
The fatty acids are absorbed by the intestines and bring with them the essential vitamins A, D, E and K. When fat molecules are present in the intestines with any of those vitamins, the vitamins attach to the molecules and are carried into the bloodstream.
Olestra, which is made from six to eight molecules of fatty acids, is too large for the intestines to absorb. It just slides through the intestines without being broken down. Manufacturers say it’s that ability to slide unchanged through the intestines that makes olestra so valuable as a fat substitute. It provides consumers with the taste of regular fat without any bad effects on the body. But critics say olestra can prevent vitamins A, D, E and K from being absorbed. It can also prevent the absorption of carotenoids（类胡萝卜素）, compounds that may reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, etc.
Manufacturers are adding vitamins A, D, E and K as well as carotenoids to their products now. Even so, some nutritionists are still concerned that people might eat unlimited amounts of food made with the fat substitute without worrying about how many calories they are consuming.
1. From the article, we learn that olestra ______.| A．is nutritious, containing plenty of carotenoids |
| B．renders foods calorie-free while retaining their vitamins |
| C．helps foods to be highly absorbent and digestible |
| D．makes foods fat-free while keeping them delicious |
| A．commercially useless | B．scientifically challenging |
| C．somewhat troublesome | D．quite unexpected |
| A．it passes through the intestines without being absorbed |
| B．it facilitates the absorption of vitamins by the body |
| C．it helps reduce the incidence of heart disease |
| D．it prevents excessive intake of vitamins |
| A．it may lead to the over-consumption of vitamins. |
| B．people may be induced to eat more than is necessary. |
| C．the function of the intestines may be weakened. |
| D．it may trigger a new wave of fake food production. |
2 . Home Laundry Automatic Dryer Product
Full Two Year Warranty (保修)
Limited Five Year Warranty on Cabinet (机箱)
The warranty provides for:
• For the first two years Amana will repair or replace any faulty part free of charge.
• From the third year to the fifth year Amana will provide free replacement for any cabinet which proves faulty due to rust (锈).
The warranty limitations:
• The warranty begins at the date of original purchase.
• The warranty only applies to product used within the United States or in Canada if product is approved by Canadian Standards Association when shipped from the factory.
• Products used on a commercial or rental basis are not covered by this warranty.
• Service must be performed by an Amana servicer.
• Adjustments are covered during first year only.
The owner’s responsibilities:
• Provide the sales receipt.
• Normal care and maintenance.
• Have the product reasonably accessible for services.
• Pay for service calls related to product installation or usage instructions.
• Pay for extra service costs, over normal service charges, if servicer is requested to perform service outside servicer’s normal business hours.
The warranty does not cover it if:
• The product has damage due to product alteration and connection to an improper electricity supply, shipping and handling, accidents, fires, floods, lightning or other conditions beyond the control of Amana.
• The product is improperly installed (安装) or applied.
★On no condition shall Amana be responsible for consequential damages (间接损坏).
★This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have others which vary from state to state. For example, some states do not allow the exclusion (排除) or limitation of consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you.
1. In which condition can a product be under warranty according to the warranty limitations?| A．Being used in the U.S.A. |
| B．Being rented for home use. |
| C．Being repaired by the user himself. |
| D．Being shipped from a Canadian factory. |
| A．The product installation. |
| B．A servicer’s overtime work. |
| C．The loss of the sales receipt. |
| D．A mechanic’s transportation. |
| A．The consequential damages are excluded across America. |
| B．A product damaged in a natural disaster is covered by the warranty. |
| C．A faulty cabinet due to rust can be replaced free in the third year. |
| D．Free repair is available for a product used improperly in the first year. |
3 . Here are four books which will make young readers want to continue turning the pages.
Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee
Outrun the Moon tells the story of a fifteen-year-old girl and her determination to succeed, even in the face of disaster. Mercy Wong’s life is completely turned upside down when an earthquake destroys her home and school. Mercy is determined to help her broken city heal. Outrun the Moon is a heartwarming story about the determination of a teenage girl. It’s the winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.
OCDaniel by Wesley King
This first-person narrative is told from the perspective of Daniel, a 13-year-old who tries to hide his obsessive compulsive disorder as he struggles to fit into the world of middle school. Then he gets a note that puts him in the middle of a mystery that may change everything. Full of heartbreak and joy, as well as important lessons and themes, OCDaniel is a thrilling novel that will definitely make you cheer for Daniel and eagerly turn the pages.
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
With dreams of becoming a teacher one day, the main character, Amal, is living a simple, ordinary life in her Pakistani village until a terrible incident forces her to become a servant for the village’s landlord(地主). Her new life is a struggle, at times heartbreaking, but she stays strong. After many struggles, she finally returns to her loved ones and works towards her goals.
Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
This novel tells the tale of six students who meet weekly to speak from their hearts about issues that are affecting them, from race, prejudice and privilege to immigration. As they express the feelings and fears that they hid from others and try to make sense of the world around them, the kids show the effectiveness of talking to others.
1. What is Outrun the Moon about?| A．A boy has difficulty fitting into the world. |
| B．Some students have a free talk every week. |
| C．A girl helps repair her city after the disaster. |
| D．A woman tries her best to become a teacher. |
| A．Outrun the Moon. | B．OCDaniel. |
| C．Amal Unbound. | D．Harbor Me. |
| A．They are the bestsellers. |
| B．They are suitable for teenagers. |
| C．They are award-winning books. |
| D．They are based on true stories. |
4 . Tristan da Cunha, a British territory, is 2,300 miles east of South America and 1,600 miles west of South Africa. To reach it requires a seven-day boat trip from South Africa, and once you’re there, you feel so much like you’re at the edge of the world.
Remote as it is, Tristan da Cunha is not without its conservation threats. Invasive mice, brought by passing ships, kill about two million birds a year. The region has seen illegal fishing vessels. A 2017 report by Pristine Seas used satellite data to track fishing vessels in the area from 2014 to 2016. A majority of the 253 vessels traced by the satellite appeared to be passing through, but 11 showed activity consistent with fishing. Improper fishing activities can make seabirds, sharks, and other important
species caught in nets or on fishing lines by accident.
To stop the situation going from bad to worse, Tristan da Cunha will receive more resources for patrolling its waters for illegal fishing activity to protect the marine areas. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are seen by experts as a conservation silver bullet. A study published on Tuesday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences further confirmed established scientific evidence that MPAs worldwide protect seafood supplies by producing larger catch yields. Fisheries that are left undisturbed in Marine protected areas can produce a “spillover” effect in which an abundance of fish from a protected area “spill over” into fishing hotspots. Expanding the current network of protected areas by just 5 percent, the study found, could boost global fish catch by at least 20 percent.
“The increasing demand for seafood from the world human population explosion, in addition to the expected negative impacts of climate change on many fisheries, increases the need for managing and protecting fish sources well.” says Reniel Cabral, an ecologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and one of the study’s authors.
1. Which country does Tristan da Cunha belong to?| A．South Africa | B．Britain | C．America | D．Pristine |
| A．illegal fishing | B．passing ships | C．alien mice | D．spillover effect |
| A．Increasing catch yields | B．Meeting the need for food |
| C．Improving the expected climate | D．Leaving the island undisturbed |
| A．Population explosion does harm to fish sources. |
| B．The climate change will be bad for fisheries. |
| C．The demand for seafood delays protecting fish sources. |
| D．Protecting fish sources contributes to environment protection. |
5 . The first thing we notice about new people are their faces. The next time we see these people, we remember them because we remember their faces. This seems like a simple process. However, scientists found that it is not such a simple process. The section of the brain that is responsible for face recognition seems to work differently for different people. Some people have great difficulty remembering and recognizing faces, while others almost never forget a face.
Normal babies are born with a natural ability to recognize faces. In fact, their face recognition abilities are much better than their parents. Babies are highly skilled at face recognition at six months. But by nine months, they lose this skill, By nine months, a baby’s face-recognition skills are about the same as an adult’s.
Unfortunately, some people are not born with this ability to recognize faces. The part of the brain that is responsible for face recognition doesn’t work for them. This condition is called face blindness. People with very severe face blindness cannot even recognize their own faces. In fact, people with this condition can sometimes be frightened when they look in the mirror. They don’t recognize their own face, so for a second they are startled when they see this unfamiliar face.
Face blindness is not always severe. Scientists believe up to 10 percent of the population may be affected by face blindness to some degree, yet many people with mild face blindness might not even know they have it. They have no reason to know they are different from anyone else until someone points it out. This is similar to people with color blindness.
Colorblind people can’t see the difference between certain colors such as red and green, until someone tells them that green and red are two different colors.
There is no cure for face blindness. So for the time being. people with face blindness need to find simple techniques to compensate for their problem. They can try to recognize people by their hairstyle, their voice, or their glasses. Hopefully, in the future as scientists learn more about this condition, they will find a cure.
1. The first paragraph is mainly about ____________.| A．the way to improve one’s face-recognition skills |
| B．the fact that some people have face-recognition problems |
| C．the simple process of the brain to recognize others’ faces |
| D．the importance of face recognition in human communication |
| A．At birth. | B．In adolescence. |
| C．Half a year old. | D．Nine months old. |
| A．confused | B．surprised |
| C．excited | D．depressed |
| A．People need to take it seriously. | B．It affects a great number of people. |
| C．It can be cured in the near future. | D．Certain techniques can make up for it. |
6 . It’s not often an athlete receives a personal best and then leaves the track with a sense of disappointment.But after Karsten Warholm ran the second-fastest 400m hurdles (跨栏) in history earlier this year, the man couldn’t help but think what could have been.
The 24-year-old dragged his trailing (落后) leg on the final hurdle in Stockholm in August to finish in a world-leading 46.87 seconds—0.09 seconds shy of Kevin Young’s world record, a mark he has moved ever closer to throughout his career.Young’s world record, set at the Barcelona Olympics, has stood for 28 years, the longest-standing record in men’s track running.
“Being really happy and really disappointed at the same time—it’s a strange feeling,” Warholm says as he reflects on his season.“I was really, really happy of course with the race in itself.But stumbling (绊倒) into the last hurdle and just looking at the time, knowing that most likely I spoiled my chance of a world record right there.I think I’ve never felt that way before.”
Young recently said he feels it’s “about time” his record is broken, and a glance at the all-time list suggests he might not have to wait much longer.Warholm has run four of the 10 fastest times in the event’s history, while his two closest competitors, Rai Benjamin and Abderrahmane Samba, make up the only other athletes to ever run under 47 seconds.
Between those three, the race for the world record is very much on.“This is going to be really, really tough competition,” says Warholm, who took the world title last year.“I think in 400m hurdles we are in for a real treat because everybody wants this right now.I think it’s going to be like the moon race between the United States and Russia – it’s going to be crazy.”
It will take more big leaps than small steps to win in hurdles’ version of the Space Race, but as with any contest—athletic or cosmic (宇宙的)—it is competition that helps boost progress.“It’s really important to have competition, somebody pushing you and somebody keeping you on your toes, I really like that,” Warholm adds.“I’m thankful for my competitors – even though I want to beat them, of course.”
1. What can be inferred form paragraph 2?| A．Warholm felt too shy to meet Kevin Young. |
| B．Kevin set a world record of 46.87 seconds in hurdling. |
| C．Warholm failed the race totally because of his injured leg. |
| D．Warholm’s race fell 0.09 seconds short of Kevin’s record. |
| A．Having mixed feelings is usual for athletes. |
| B．Being second in the race made him cheerful. |
| C．The race made him happy but not setting the record discouraged him. |
| D．The race strengthened his determination to outperform himself and others. |
| A．To show the competition was very tough. |
| B．To show their great achievement. |
| C．To show people’s admiration to them. |
| D．To show nobody could do better than them. |
| A．competition and progress cannot coexist. |
| B．the competition made athletes do mad things |
| C．athletes need to sacrifice everything to win the race |
| D．the hurdle race is as competitive as the moon race |
7 . There have been numerous wake-up calls about the effects of climate change on sea life. As ocean waters heat up, they are making coral lose color. Growing levels of carbon dioxide are making seawater more acidic. Now climate change is starting to affect fish's sense of smell, a phenomenon that will worsen in the coming years if global warming continues growing.
A sense of smell is what the fish can't do without. They use it to find food, detect upcoming danger, escape from predators (捕食者）find safe environments, and even recognize one another. "Future levels of carbon dioxide can have large negative effects on the sense of smell of fish, which can affect fish population numbers and the entire ecosystem, ”said an ocean life expert. "This can be prevented, but we must reduce carbon emissions now before it's too late.”
Experts believe that about half of carbon dioxide emissions produced by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels--have over time ended up in the oceans, lowering the pH of seawater, and making it more acidic.
Researchers found that sea bass (鲈鱼）exposed to the more acidic conditions swam less and were less likely to react when encountering the smell of a predator. Also, they were more likely to "freeze", a sign of anxiety, according to the study. They found the longer the fish were in high CO2,the worse they got along. The researchers also measured the ability of the fish to detect certain odors (气味）in different levels of acidity (酸度）。 The study showed that their ability to detect and respond to some odors connected with food and threatening situations was more strongly affected than other odors.
The research is important because 20 percent of the protein consumed by 3 million people comes from seafood, and about 50 percent of this comes from fish caught from the wild. “Therefore, increases in carbon dioxide in the ocean have the potential to affect all fish species, including those that many people rely on food and livelihood, "the ocean life expert warned.
1. What do we know from the first paragraph?| A．Global warming will continue in the coming years. |
| B．Global warming is starting to affect fish's sense of smell. |
| C．The temperature of seawater is rising to a dangerous level. |
| D．Few people are worried about the impact of climate change. |
| A．It can affect the survival of fish. |
| B．Fish can stay safe with their sense of smell. |
| C．Fish rely on their sense of smell to find food. |
| D．Fish can find each other by their sharp noses. |
| A．He wants to blame human beings for global warming. |
| B．He wants to criticize human beings for overuse of fossil fuels. |
| C．He concludes that human activities can destroy the sense of smell of fish. |
| D．He concludes that human activities can improve the ecosystem of the ocean. |
| A．Satisfied. | B．Enthusiastic. | C．Disappointed. | D．Concerned. |
8 . The Chinese word "Shanzhai" means a small mountain village, but it becomes an accepted name for fakes (假货), after "Shanzhai Cell-phones" produced by small workshops in southern China became popular in the mainland market over the past two years. Now besides "Shanzhai" electronic products, there are "Shanzhai" movies, "Shanzhai" stars and even a "Shanzhai" Sprin Festival Gala, a copy of the 25-year-old traditional show presented by CCTV on Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve.
"Shanzhai" has become a culture of its own, meaning anything that imitates something famous. In Chongqing, "Shanzhai" version "Bird's Nest（鸟巢）" and "Water Cube（水立方）" woven by farmers with bamboo attract(吸引) wide attention from tourists. Both are copies of the famous Olympic buildings in Beijing.
A literature critic said that taking the "Shanzhai" Gala as an example, when the traditional CCTV program becomes less and less attractive to the audience, the "Shanzhai" version appears timely to attract people. "Although it is often connected with poor techniques and operation, 'Shanzhai' culture meets the psychological needs of common people and could be a comfort to their minds," he said.
To the mainstream（主流） culture, the rise of "Shanzhai" culture is a challenge and a motivation（推动）. People believe different kinds of cultures developing together is a perfect way and it is for the public to choose.
1. The Chinese word "Shanzhai" may have started with_______.| A．electronic products | B．fake(假的) cell-phones |
| C．Spring Festival Gala | D．Olympic buildings |
| A．anything that are copies of something famous |
| B．products with poor techniques and quality |
| C．the action that a person imitates famous people |
| D．those similar names to famous brands |
| A．is stopped by "Shanzhai" culture |
| B．is the challenge of"Shanzhai" culture |
| C．may develop faster because of the challenge of "Shanzhai" culture |
| D．will be replaced by "Shanzhai" culture |
| A．偷窃 | B．做广告 |
| C．仿造 | D．欺骗 |
9 . Recently, as I watched my son Nathan play basketball for his school team, I was feeling sorry for myself and for him. His team was facing adversity (困境) on the court and he was playing in a hostile environment — it was the opponent’s home gym filled with their supporters, and Nathan’s team was trailing (落后) for three quarters of the game. As for me, I had just been dismissed (解雇) from my job earlier in that day.
During the drive home, I kept telling myself that I would find work again in a short time — I was always confident in my experience and abilities, but self-doubt was still sticking its foot in the door.
The basketball game entered the fourth quarter with Nathan’s team still trailing. I saw the determination on his face as well as his teammates’ as they fought back to not only tie the game, but then go ahead by three points. Then, a player from the other team made an unbelievable shot to make the game tied again. With the tied scores and seconds on the clock, Nathan found himself with the ball and with skill and confidence, he made the basket with a defender hanging all over him. The other player was called for a foul (犯规).
As Nathan stood preparing for a shot that would put his team up by three points, I saw the focus and determination on his face, with no room for self-doubt. Nathan was able to tune out all the distractions and nail the free throw with such skill, as if he had done it a thousand times.
As I sat there, my heart bursting with pride, it dawned on me that I had taught him perseverance (毅力) in the face of adversity, and he had just taught me the same lesson. That brief moment of self-doubt and feeling sorry for myself was blown away by the actions of my son on the basketball court. He will play in the finals, but it doesn’t matter if he wins or loses. At this moment, we both won.
1. What did the author estimate his son’s team would be like at first?| A．The team would finally win. |
| B．The team would lose at away court. |
| C．The team would lose at home court. |
| D．The team would tie with the opponents. |
| A．Avoid. | B．Focus. | C．Create. | D．Receive. |
| A．My son would win in the finals and I would find a job soon. |
| B．I had once taught my son face to face that we should never give up. |
| C．It was my encouragement and help that made my son win the game. |
| D．I would become more confident about my future after this experience. |
| A．Life Goes Just Like Playing Basketball |
| B．It Matters Whether to Win or Lose |
| C．A Lesson in Life and Basketball |
| D．A Moment of Self-doubt |
War Horse
It is possibly the National's biggest hit, having played in 11 countries to more than seven million people. Now, Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris' s production returns to the venue 11 years after its first show. A Christmas treat.
National Theatre, November 8 to January 5
Christmas Spectacular
The small Norfolk town of Fakenham receives around 110, 000 visitors annually for this seasonal institution, which has been running for 42 years. Even the royal family have come to the show.
Thursford Collection, November 6 to December 23
Company
The trend for gender-change roles continues with Stephen Sondheim' s 1970 musical, in which the hero Bobby- -turning 35 and at an emotional crossroads- becomes the female Bobbie. It works. In the updated Company, the plot remains the same and there's funny acting from Rosalie Craig in the lead .Marianne Elliott directs with her habitual imagination.
Gielgud Theatre, November 7 to March 30
Macbeth
There have been a couple of versions of the Scottish Play this year. The Globe hopes for a better opening for its winter season. The rest of the season includes Marlowe' s Doctor Faustus with Pauline Melynn as Mephistopheles, and Richard II with a cast of women of colour.
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, November 7 to February 2
Troilus and Cressida
To present Polonius in Hamlet, the production of this“problem”play is comical-historical in new RSC(英国皇家莎士比亚剧团) staging. There is even the first deaf actor in a mainstream RSC role,Charlotte Arrowsmith, signing her lines as Cassandra.
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, November 8 to November 17
1. The following shows can be watched on Christmas Day EXCEPT________.| A．War Horse | B．Christmas Spectacular | C．Company | D．Macbeth |
| A．The hero Bobby becomes a lady in the musical. |
| B．Bobby falls in love with Bobbie in the story. |
| C．In 1970, Stephen Sondheim wrote a novel called Company. |
| D．Marianne Elliott stars in Company and her acting is interesting. |
| A．Polonius. | B．Charlotte. | C．Cassandra. | D．Hamlet. |
