1 . Island life is one of those things you dream about. Here are four beautiful small islands to consider for your next vacation.

Washington Island, USA

Although with fewer than 700 residents, the island is home to Schoolhouse Beach, known for its clear water and smooth, rounded limestone rocks-one of only a handful of such beaches in North America. Tour the island on the Cherry Train, climb the lookout tower, or rent a bike and cycle the miles of empty roads. Retire for the night at the Hotel Washington & Studio, a landmark inn with a history of over 100 years.

Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda

There’s a good chance birds actually outnumber humans on the small island of Barbuda. Mostly undeveloped and completely unspoiled, the beaches are famous for silky white and pink sand, stretching as far as the eye can see. There’s only a handful of resorts and restaurants, mostly plain beach bars, but make sure to stop by Uncle Roddy’s, which serves up cold drinks and some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever find.

Grand Manan Island, Canada

While you won’t find any palm trees here, Grand Manan still offers a relaxed pace. Connected to mainland New Brunswick by ferry, the small island is home to charming villages, and the Swallow Tail Lighthouse-the second-most photographed lighthouse in all of Atlantic Canada. Take a whale-watching cruise (巡游), surf on the Bay of Fundy (home to the highest tides in the world), or just sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Key West, USA

Located at the end of the famous Florida Keys, Key West has a fascinating history. Tennessee Williams is said to have written the first draft of A Streetcar Named Desire here. Ernest Hemingway spent many a night in the bars of Old Town, now a historic district filled by wood-frame buildings. Take in the island’s famous lighthouse, photograph some of the free-running chickens, then settle in for the daily Sunset Celebration on Mallory Square.

1. Where can visitors live in a famous century-old inn?

A．Key West, USA.

B．Grand Manan Island, Canada.

C．Washington Island, USA.

D．Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda.

2. What makes Barbuda obviously different from the other islands?

A．The wild and unexplored beaches.

B．The great number of bars and hotels.

C．Cold drinks and fresh food.

D．The chance to play on beautiful beaches.

3. What do Grand Manan Island and Key West have in common?

A．Travelers can watch whale shows.

B．Travelers can visit a famous lighthouse.

C．Travelers can see the highest tide in the world.

D．Travelers can find the village where Hemingway once lived.

2 . Chimps use loud calls and gestures to make their feelings known but until now, the exact meaning for individual movements has remained a mystery. Now researchers believe they have translated the key gestures used in the chimp community and identified their intentions for the first time.

From 4,351 gestures, experts were able to identify 66 that are used for 19 specific message meanings, including showing a foot to tell a child they can climb on their back. The researchers were able to narrow down these 66 gestures to 36 that are used intentionally to achieve 15 purposes. The translations were made by Dr Catherine Hobaiter and her colleagues at St Andrews University in Scotland.

Dr Hobaiter used behavior sampling and filmed all recorded cases of gestural communication. Other gestures include stomping their feet to ask another chimp to stop what they are doing, and slapping objects together to ask another to follow them. Of the 19 meanings,17 encouraged interactions to start, or to develop, such as “move closer,” and “change play”. Some of the gestures were found to have more than one meaning. and only 10 of the 66 gestures were used for only a single meaning.

Researchers collected a total of 471 video clips from two social groups of chimps at a shelter near Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. As well as identifying what the gesture means, they also discovered the technique needed to increase the chances of success.

“Human children use gestures to communicate before they produce their first words, and their earliest gestures typically appear around 10 months of age,” explained the researchers. “In great apes, there is good evidence that language-trained individuals are capable of acquiring and understanding signals, but this is far less clear in their natural communication. ”

1. Chimps slap the objects to____________.

A．tell others to stop what they are doing	B．ask others chimps to join them
C．gather other chimps to move closer	D．encourage interactions to start

2. What did researchers find after studying 471 video clips?

A．Chimps trained in language are good at understanding signals.

B．Two social groups of chimps live at a shelter near Kinshasa.

C．Language-trained individuals do well in natural communication.

D．Chimps’earliest gestures appear around 10 months of age.

3. How is the last paragraph developed?

A．By analyzing causes.	B．By examining differences.
C．By making comparisons.	D．By following time order.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．A New Research on Chimps	B．Human Children and Chimps
C．Getting the Chimps Trained for Language	D．Translating the Sign Language of Chimps

3 . VATNAJÖKULL NATIONAL PARK, ICELAND

Vatnajökull National Park is home to one of the largest glaciers in the world and two active volcanoes. A popular place to explore ice caves, you can experience here the breath-taking views of waterfalls, frozen rivers and herds of reindeer through cave tours, glacial hikes and jeep safaris.

Best time to visit: May to September.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL RUINS OF LIANGZHU CITY, CHINA

Dating back to 5,300 years ago, the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City is considered as an important representation of early urban civilization based on rice plantation. The city ruins show the contributions made by the Yangtze River Basin to the origins of Chinese civilization.

Best time to visit: March to May & October to mid December.

BAGAN, MYANMAR

Located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River, Bagan is the capital of the ancient Burmese empire and features a stunning range of Buddhist art and architecture. Visitors can get the best views at sunrise by taking a hot air balloon ride and witness hundreds of architectural treasures as far as the eye can reach.

Best time to visit: November to February.

JAIPUR CITY, INDIA

The walled city of Jaipur is one of the most colourful cities in the world and part of India's famous Golden Triangle. The city is not only famous for its pink coloured buildings, but also the houses, shops, restaurants and hotels which give you a feast for colors.   Besides, you can enjoy the city's layout, busy streets and large public squares.   

Best time to visit: November to March.

1. Which of the following is best recommended in April?

A．Bagan.	B．Jaipur City.
C．Vatnajökull National Park.	D．Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City.

2. What is special about Bagan?

A．It features views of volcanoes.

B．It is heavy with religious culture.

C．It has a history of over 5000 years.

D．It's known for colorful architecture.

3. In which part of a magazine can you most probably read this text?

A．Geography.

B．Culture.

C．Science.

D．Environment.

4 .

In Africa, the honeyguide birds can respond to human calls to lead people to honey—what scientists describe as a mutualistic interaction,   or one that benefits both creatures. The birds tweet and fly from tree to tree to guide honey seekers to hidden bee nests, typically inside trees. Then, humans open the trees to find honey, and the birds can dine on beeswax, their favorite food.
Dogs have an excellent sense of smell, which is why the folks at Penn Vet Working Dog Center are training dogs to identify the smell of cancer using tissue and blood samples from people who suffer. The scientists hope to develop a way for dogs to screen samples first, then perform follow-up testing on the samples the dogs flagged—a system for spotting cancer in its early stages.
Having a snake wrapped around your neck isn’t necessarily what you usually expect. But Monty, a 13-year-old snake has been helping customers relax with neck massages(按摩). It’s unlikely he was trained to do the job and is just pulsating like any other snake would when   around a person’s neck. Regardless, this special snake books out a few weeks in advance.
The Guide Horse Foundation has been training miniature horses (those standing 34 inches or less) as assistance animals for the visually damaged since 1999. Miniature horses are ideal service animals for people who feel uncomfortable with dogs or who want a guide animal with a longer life span. The horses typically live from 30 to 40 years.

1. According to the text, which animal can help you relax?

A．A snake.	B．A dog.
C．A honeyguide bird.	D．A miniature horse.

2. Miniature horses could serve _________.

A．blind people who dislike dogs	B．blind people who can live longer
C．animal lovers who search for honey	D．animal lovers who suffer from cancer

3. The text is about animals’ _________.

A．special training	B．great potentials
C．unique jobs	D．high intelligence

5 . An 8-year-old boy I know is small for his age, shorter and slighter than his friends, even smaller than his 5-year-old sister. Concerned about the increasing use and possible risks of growth hormone(生长激素), I asked his mother if she’d considered treating him with it. She replied, “Not really. He’s built like his father, who was short and slight as a boy and didn’t shoot up until college.”

His father, at 41, is now 6 feet tall, though still very slender. He recalls being a reasonably athletic child but without the physical power of his friends, making up for what he lacked in mass with speed and agility. “I enjoyed competitive sports and worked on skills others didn’t have,” he told me, and said he encourages his son to recognize and capitalize on the skills he has.

If only every parent with a short but healthy child approached the matter as sensibly. Experts estimate that 60% to 80% of children who are short for their age do not have a growth hormone deficiency(缺乏) or other medical condition that limits growth. But knowing there’s a therapy available to increase height, some parents seek a medical solution for a perceived problem, even when there is no medical abnormality. They should also know, however, that new research has linked growth hormone treatment to serious unfavorable health effects years later.

Dr. Adda Grimberg, a doctor at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, recalled that “Twenty years ago, families were focused on health. They came in with a child who was not growing right and wanted to know if there was an underlying disease. Now, more and more, they’re focused on height. They want growth hormone, looking for a specific height. But this is not like online shopping; you can’t just place an order and make a child the height you want.”

In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration approved use of recombinant human growth hormone for the condition known as “idiopathic short stature”, or short build of unknown cause, which is not a disease. But it has caused a growing number of parents to consider using the hormone to boost the height of their children.

The resulting rush to therapy reflects concerns about a widespread societal bias(偏见) against shortness, rather than a true medical need. Experts have noted that the practice backs up the belief that short stature is unacceptable, leading to an increasing demand for therapy. It is far better, Dr. Grimberg suggested, to help a short child develop coping skills than to buy inches through medicine.

1. As for the parents’ attitude to their 8-year-old boy’s shortness, the author is ________.

A．critical

B．tolerant

C．supportive

D．worried

2. How do many parents today react to their children’s shortness?

A．They are eager to get the expected result.

B．They spare no effort to sort out the cause.

C．They feel disturbed by their children’s health.

D．They help develop their children’s coping skills.

3. What can we learn about the growth hormone treatment?

A．It might be officially recommended.

B．It may fuel height discrimination.

C．It is pushed by a medical need.

D．It is targeted at certain diseases.

4. Which would be the best title for this passage?

A．Shower the Short with Growth Hormones

B．Find Replacement for Growth Hormones

C．Assess the Effects of Growth Hormones

D．Weigh the Use of Growth Hormones

6 . My work started in 2003 at my local animal shelter’s Adoption Department. It seems like such a long time ago. In the 13 years that have passed, more than 50,000 animals have passed the doors of the shelter. Most of them, I do not remember. But occasionally there are animals who stand out. Tabby was one such animal.

Tabby was one of the many homeless dogs. What’s more, she was blind and deaf. Tabby’s chances at adoption seemed remote at best. But one day a woman named Loretta came to the shelter. Her son, Gary, who suffered from epilepsy (癫痫) had seen Tabby’s picture on the shelter’s website. They were interested in meeting her! Most boys would want a puppy, a dog who could grow with him and run through grassy fields on summer days. Tabby would never be able to do that. But as they say, "love is blind". After meeting her, they decided to adopt Tabby!

If Tabby’s story had simply ended with her successful adoption, it would still have been something very special indeed but it was what happened after her adoption that some might label as "magical" or perhaps even miraculous. As Gary and Tabby did everything together, they became so "in tune" with one another that Tabby began to telegraph Gary’s seizures (疾病发作) before they occurred, giving his family a warning that one was about to strike. What’s more, Gary seemed to be having fewer and fewer seizures since Tabby’s arrival.

How could it be? There are some things that happen in this world that challenge all logic and understanding. Sometimes, the best that we can do is to accept a miraculous thing, which we didn’t attempt to explain. Because when you try to explain it, you lose the beauty and wonder of it all.

1. Which sentence can be used to describe Tabby?

A．She was so lovely that she could be easily adopted.

B．She suffered a lot from the disease-epilepsy.

C．She was so strong that she could run very fast.

D．She was homeless and couldn’t see or hear.

2. What does the underlined word "miraculous" in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Amazing.

B．Typical.

C．Interesting.

D．Special.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Gary learnt about Tabby from a magazine.

B．Gary was cured in the company of Tabby.

C．Tabby could indicate a seizure before it struck.

D．Most boys would have the same decision as Gary.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Love is Blind: a Miraculous Dog	B．Give Me Food: My Dear Master
C．Love is Everywhere: a Poor Dog	D．Take Me Home: My Dear Boy

7 . Researchers at the DogStudies lab at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History have shown that dogs may possess some metacognitive (元认知) abilities. Specifically, when they do not have enough information to solve a problem, they will actively look for more information, similarly to primates (灵长类).

In a recent study, project leader Julia Belger explored whether dogs have metacognitive abilities. To test this, the researchers designed a device involving two V-shaped fences. A reward, either food or a toy, would be placed by one researcher behind one of the two fences while another researcher held the dogs. In some cases, the dogs could see where the reward was placed, while in others, the dogs could not. The researchers then analyzed how frequently the dogs looked through the gap in the fence before choosing an option.

The researchers found that the dogs did check significantly more often for the reward when they had not seen where it was placed. These results show that dogs do tend to actively seek extra information when they have not seen where the reward is concealed.

The results did not allow the researchers to say definitively whether dogs possess meta-cognition, though they displayed some evidence for it. Julia said, “For humans, vision is an important information gathering sense. In this case, our experiment was based on a checking action relying on sight, but the dogs probably also used their sense of smell when checking through the gap. We know that smell is very important to dogs and we could see that they were using it.”

Julia added, “In future, we would like to develop an experiment to investigate under what circumstances dogs decide to use their sense of smell versus sight. This may give us additional insights into their information seeking abilities.”

1. What ability may dogs have according to the study?

A．To offer information like primates.	B．To use their skills to find more food.
C．To seek information to solve a problem.	D．To ask for help before choosing an option.

2. What does the underlined word “concealed” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Decorated.

B．Hidden.

C．Produced.

D．Purchased.

3. What attitude did the researchers have to the finding?

A．Uncertain.

B．Friendly.

C．Negative.

D．Critical.

4. In which section of a newspaper can you probably read the text?

A．Environment and technology.	B．Humans and nature.
C．Literature and culture.	D．Society and life.

8 . The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms (节气). The Spring Equinox (春分), as the fourth term of the year, starts on March 20 and ends on April 3 this year. Here are things you may not know about the Spring Equinox.

Swallows flying north

The ancient Chinese people divided the fifteen days of the Spring Equinox into three “hou’s”, or five-day parts. As the old saying goes, swallows fly back to the North in the first hou; thunder cracks the sky in the second hou; lightning occurs frequently in the third hou. It vividly reveals the climate feature during the Spring Equinox.

Egg-standing games

Standing an egg upright is a popular game across the country during the Spring Equinox. It is an old custom that dates back to 4,000 years ago. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand, he will have good luck in the future.

Flying kites

The Spring Equinox is a good time to fly kites. In ancient times, people did not have good medical resources. To pray for health, they wrote their medical issues on a paper kite. When the kite was in the air, people would cut off the string to let the paper kite float away, symbolizing the flying away of diseases.

Eating spring vegetables

Eating spring vegetables during the Spring Equinox is a commonly practiced custom in many regions of China. Spring vegetables refer to seasonal vegetables that differ from place to place. The ancient teachings in the Chinese classic, Huangdi Neijing, suggest that people eat seasonal foods to help preserve health and bring good luck.

1. Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the Spring Equinox?

A．Time division.	B．Climate feature.
C．Customary activities.	D．Historical stories.

2. What would ancient Chinese people do to pray for health?

A．Stand eggs.	B．Fly kites.
C．Eat spring vegetables.	D．Observe the immigration of birds.

3. Who are the target readers of the text?

A．The general public.	B．Chinese farmers.
C．Culture researchers.	D．Weather reporters.

9 . In Japan, some workers who regularly drink beer at the end of the day are giving their livers a rest by turning to beer that is free, or nearly free of alcohol.The liver is the organ that works to remove alcohol from the body. Masuda, one of beer lovers, said he is paying more attention to his health now that he is older.

Asahi is a large beverage company in Japan, which made 20 percent more money from low-alcohol beer in 2020 compared to the year before. Kirin is another company that makes things to drink. It saw sales grow by 10 percent last year and expects another increase this year.

The increase in sales of non-alcoholic beer might be the result of many Japanese people spending more time at home. In the past, they would order beers together while going out. More people are trying to stay healthy as well. Also, fewer people are drinking beer, as wine and other alcoholic drinks become more popular. But the new interest in low-alcohol beer has helped the beverage industry in Japan.

In recent years, many companies started making non-alcoholic beers. They caught on in places like Australia and Germany but not in Japan – until this year.

The chief of Suntory, another large beverage company in Japan, said people only responded to non-alcoholic beer advertising when the product started to taste better. Many people agree that today's non-alcoholic beers taste better than they used to. Asahi's "Beery" has very little alcohol. But it is supposed to have more taste than earlier versions of low-alcohol beer because of a new way of removing the alcohol. The company plans to offer more low-alcohol beers in coming years.

Kazuo Matsuyama is marketing chief for Asahi, who said most beer companies used to advertise to people who had a drink every day. That was about 20 million people. But there are about 80 million people in Japan between the ages of 20 and 60." But now we need to look at others." Matsuyama said.

1. Why do some Japanese workers turn to beers free of alcohol nowadays?

A．To appreciate a tasty flavor.	B．To ensure a healthier lifestyle.
C．To get rid of liver cancer.	D．To relieve stress in their life.

2. What’s the author’s statement on beverage companies’ excellent sales in 2020 based on?

A．Beverage company traditions.

B．Financial reports.

C．Published statistics.

D．Public opinions.

3. What’s Australian’s attitude to non-alcoholic beers?

A．Enthusiastic.

B．Indifferent.

C．Critical.

D．Objective.

4. What’s the text mainly about?

A．New lifestyles in Japan.

B．The development of Asahi.

C．Introductions of different beers.

D．Popularity of alcohol free beers.

10 . Wouldn’t it be great if you could correct your eyesight, especially nearsightedness, and reduce your dependence on glasses and needn’t have eye surgery? The solution is called orthokeratology, or ortho-k (角膜塑形镜).

What is ortho-k?

Orthokeratology( ortho- k)is the fitting of specially designed contact lenses (隐形眼镜) that you wear overnight while you are asleep, the lenses gently reshape the front surface of your cornea (角膜) so you can see clearly the following day after you remove the lenses when you wake up.

How long does the ortho-k effect last?

You should be able to see acceptably well without glasses or contact lenses for a day or two, sometimes longer. For best results, one should wear the ortho- k lenses every might.

Who are good candidates for ortho-k?

Most people with mild to average nearsightedness are good candidates for ortho-k. Because the cornmeal reshaping effect is temporary, little risk is involved, and you can discontinue wearing the lenses at any time. Children and young adults who want to be gases-free but are too young for eye surgery or are afraid of taking the surgery often are good candidates for ortho-k. People who participate in contact sports or work in dusty environments that can have problems for contact lens wear also can be good candidates.

How much does ortho-k cost?

Costs also can vary based on the region of the country and the type of practice where you have the procedure performed. Ortho-k prices in the US generally range from $1, 000 to $2, 000 But particularly difficult cases of ortho-k can cost as much as $4.000.

There are additional costs for lens care solutions and following up exams, which can total about $300 to $ 500 per year.

Finally, keep in mind that, as with all contact lenses, there are some possible side effects of wearing ortho-k lenses. Ask your eye doctor for details.

1. According to the passage, which way is introduced to correct eyesight?

A．Performing an operation of the cornea.

B．Applying contact lenses in the daytime.

C．Fitting proper glasses during the night.

D．Wearing especially designed contact lenses.

2. Which of the following statements is right?

A．You have to wear ortho-k day and night to ensure good results.

B．Ortho-k is a good choice for a man with average nearsightedness.

C．The cast of ortho-k in the city is higher than that in the countryside.

D．There is no need for people to worry about the side effects of ortho-k.

3. How much will a person pay for using otho-k for the first year at least?

A．1, 000.

B．$1, 300.

C．$1, 500.

D．$2, 000.