1 . Winter-swimming has become popular in Beijing. Three years ago, few people would go swimming in the city waters. But now there is a Winter-swimming Enthusiasts’ Club(冬泳爱好者协会) and it has more than 2, 000 members. The oldest is 84 years of age and the youngest is only 7. The members are from all ways of life. They may be workers, peasants, soldiers, teachers, students....

Though it is now the coldest part of the season and the water temperature in the city’s lakes is around 0°C, many winter-swimmers still swim in the icy waters, even when it is snowing. They enjoy themselves in the lake, while the people by the side of the lake are wearing heavy clothes.

Why are so many people interested in winter-swimming? Because winter-swimming can be good for one’s health.

Bei Sha is a good example. He is 69 years old, and he once suffered from heart trouble for 26 years. After ten years of winter-swimming he is now in good health. Scientists are now studying the effects of winter-swimming on health.

1. Among the winter-swimmers the oldest man is ________ years older than the youngest one.

A．91	B．84
C．77	D．7

2. Guess what “The members are from all ways of life” means.

A．The members do different jobs at different places.

B．They come from all parts of Beijing.

C．They are persons of different ages.

D．They are men and women, old and young.

3. Winter-swimming has become popular in Beijing because ________.

A．more and more people like to swim in winter

B．it is more interesting than swimming in summer

C．winter-swimmers are brave men

D．winter-swimming does a lot of good to one’s health

4. The best title for this passage should be ________.

A．People in Beijing Like Swimming in Winter

B．Winter-swimming — A Craze(狂热) in Beijing

C．People Benefit from Winter-swimming

D．Winter-swimmers Are Brave Men

2 . By the year 2050, a fifth of the world’s cities will experience unprecedented climate conditions and environments that currently don’t exist in any major cities, according to new research. A team of scientists at the Crowther Lab in Switzerland produced the report, which described the climate for 520 major cities 30 years in the future.

The results showed that 77 percent of the world’s cities will experience a surprising change in climate conditions by 2050, and 22 percent of the 520 cities will see conditions that are not currently experienced by any existing major cities.

In China in 2050, the climate of Xi’an, in Shanxi province, will be similar to that of current day Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho in southern Africa, with the maximum temperature of the warmest month likely to increase by 4.59℃. Chongqing in southwest China will resemble the climate of Swaziland capital Mbabane, as the warmest temperature is predicted to rise by 5.1℃.

Scientists predict summers in Europe will get warmer by an average of 3.5℃ and European winters will see temperature rises of 4.7℃. London’s climate will be more similar lo Barcelona, and Madrid’s to Marrakech.

The Crowther Lab hopes the analysis will motivate decision-makers to take necessary steps to prevent or address some of the climate effects due to the threat of climate change. The report also found that cities in tropical regions will experience smaller changes in average temperature but will be controlled by shifts in rainfall regimes. This may lead to a noticeable increase in unexpected events, and severe droughts.

“Across all scientific fields, the greatest challenge in climate science is no longer the precise measurement of climate change impacts, but inspiring people to picture is actual effects in order to motivate action,” said Tom Crowther, senior scientist und founder of the Crowther Lab.

1. According to the research, among the 520 cities by 2050, about ________ cities will experience the climate conditions that no major cities currently have experienced.

A．400

B．114

C．260

D．104

2. How did the scientists prove their result?

A．By listing figures.	B．By making comparisons.
C．By doing experiments.	D．By explaining theory.

3. What is the Crowther Lab intended for?

A．To compare the climate change of the major cities of the world.

B．To inspire people to picture its actual effects in order to motivate action.

C．To inspire decision-makers to take necessary steps to prevent some climate effects.

D．To show most word’s cities will experience a striking change in climate conditions.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．World Temperature	B．Current Climate Change
C．Big Titles in the World	D．Future Climate Change in Most Big Cities

4 . Metro Pocket Guide

Metrorail (地铁)

Each passenger needs a farecard to enter and go out. Up to two children under five may travel free with a paying customer.

Farecard machine are in every station, Bring small bills because there are no change machines in the station and farecard machine only provide up to $ 5 in change.

Get one of unlimited Metrorail rides with a One Day Pass. Buy it from a farecard machine in Metro stations. Use it after 9:30 a.m. until closing on weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays.

Hours of Service

Open: 5 a.m. Mon — Fri                  7a.m. Sat — Sun.

Close midnight Sun — Thur.          3. a.m. Fri — Sat. nights

Last train times vary. To avoid missing the last train, please check the last train time posted in the station.

Metrobus

When paying with exact change, the fare is $ 1.35. When paying with a smatTrip CARD the fare is $1.25

Fares for the Senior /disabled customers

Senior citizens 65 and older and disabled customers may ride for half the regular fare. On Metrorail and Metrobus, use a senior/disabled farecard or SmarTrip card. For more information about buying senior/disabled farecards, farecard or SmarTripR card and passes, please visit MetroOpenDoors.com or call 202-637-7000 and 202-637-8000.

Senior citizens and disabled customers can get free guide on how to use proper Metrobus and Metrorail services by calling 202-962-1100

Travel tips

Avoid riding during weekday rush periods — before 9:30 a.m. and between 4 and 6 p.m.

If you lose something on a bus or train or in a station, please call Lost & Found at 202-962-1195.

1. What should you know about farecard machine?

A．They start selling tickets at 9:30 a.m.

B．They are connected to change machines.

C．They offer special service to the elderly.

D．They make change for no more than $5.

2. At what time does Metrorail stop service on Saturday?

A．At midnight	B．at 3 a.m.
C．at 5 am	D．at 7 p.m.

3. What is good about a SmarTrip card?

A．It is convenient for old people	B．It saves money for its users[
C．it can be bought at any time	D．it is sold on the Internet

4. Which number should you call if you lose something on the Metro?

A．202-962-1195	B．202-962-1100
C．202-673-7000	D．202-673-8000

5 . John B. Goodenough, an engineering professor from the University of Texas at Austin(UT-Austin), won the 2019 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his work on developing lithium-ion batteries (锂电池). He was the oldest person to win a Nobel Prize.

Goodenough, who was born in 1922, identified and developed the key materials that can power portable electronics, leading to the wireless revolution. Today, batteries using Goodenough’s inventions are used worldwide for mobile phones, power tools, laptops, tablets and other wireless devices, as well as electric vehicles.

Goodenough received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Yale University at 21 and a doctor’s degree in physics from the University of Chicago when he was 30. He beat the odds against him, first overcoming dyslexia (阅读困难症) as a child, and then the claim of a teacher who told him in his 20s that he had started too late to be successful in physics.

He began his career in 1952 at Lincoln Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he laid the groundwork for the development of random-access memory (RAM) for the digital computer.

After MIT, Goodenough became a professor and head of the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Oxford, where in 1979 he discovered it would be possible to store energy in rechargeable batteries through lithium cobalt oxide (锂钴氧化物). That discovery helped develop the lithium-ion battery.

Goodenough joined UT-Austin in 1986, where his groundbreaking work continued.

At 98 years old, he still continues to push the boundaries of materials science. In spite of the lithium-ion battery being well-developed and available as a commercial product, it has its limitations. It can’t be charged too fast or overcharged. Goodenough still wants to see some new developments.

“I hope UT-Austin still keeps me employed,” Goodenough once joked.

1. When did Goodenough achieve a doctor’s degree?

A．In 1922.

B．In 1943.

C．In 1952.

D．In 1979.

2. Where did Goodenough lay the basis for RAM?

A．At the University of Texas.

B．At the University of Oxford.

C．At the University of Chicago.

D．At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

3. How can we describe Goodenough?

A．Considerate.	B．Determined.
C．Generous.	D．Modest.

4. Which of the following could be the best title?

A．Time waits for no man	B．Make the world “Goodenough”
C．Born poor, achieved great	D．Never too old to learn

6 . Fire fighting is a serious matter. Knowing what to do during a fire can save people's lives. It is important to know the ways you can use and show them to everyone else in the family, such as stairways and emergency exits, but not elevators.

From the lower floors of buildings, escape through windows is possible. Learn the best way to get out from a windows with the least chance of serious injury.

The second floor window is usually not very high from the ground. An average person, hanging by the fingertips, will have a drop of about 6 feet to the ground. It is about the height of an average man. Of course, it is safer to jump a short way down than to stay in a burning building.

Windows are also useful when you are waiting for help. Be sure to keep the door closed before opening the Window. Otherwise, smoke and fire may be drawn into the room. Keep your head low at the window to be sure you get fresh air rather than smoke that may have leaked into the room.

On the second or third floor, the best windows for escape are those which open onto a roof. From the roof a person can drop to the ground more safely. Dropping onto cement might end in injury. Bushes and trees can help you to have a soft landing.

1. Which of the following should be avoided when trying to escape from a fire?

A．Windows.

B．Elevators.

C．Fire exits.

D．Stairways.

2. How far from the ground is the second floor window?

A．About 12 feet.	B．About 6 feet.
C．About the height of an average man.	D．Nearly 10 feet.

3. What can best describe windows as a way to escape a fire according to the passage?

A．They are the only way.	B．They are the best way.
C．They are safer than any other ways.	D．They are one of the possible ways.

4. If you are on the second or third floor when a fire breaks out, you 'd better          .

A．drop directly onto the ground

B．first drop onto a roof then onto the cement

C．drop from a roof window then onto bushes or trees

D．drop onto the cement rather than bushes and grass

7 . On the evening of April 8, Dunhuang Academy and Huawei jointly launched a brand-new technology-driven tour experience at the Mogao Grottoes. Using Huawei's newly-released Hetu artificial intelligence platform, coupled with the output of the Digital Dunhuang project, visitors to the Mogao Grottoes can enjoy a fantasy experience prior to entering the attraction.

Zhao Shengliang, director of the Dunhuang Academy, said that it has been cooperating with Huawei since March 2019. Using Huawei's latest Hetu technology, visitors are able to see the detailed contents of the Dunhuang Art Murals(壁画) outside the caves, through their Huawei mobile phones. This will reduce the time tourists spend inside the cave, aiding the protection of the cultural relics, while at the same time helping to increase the amount of information visitors can obtain. It is also considered to be a new way of promoting Dunhuang Art.

The Dunhuang Academy has used digital technology to preserve the research and exploration of Dunhuang Grottoes since the early 1990s. It has collected a wealth of data and has realized the goal of sharing of digital Dunhuang globally. It has played an important role in the protection and research of cultural site, as well as promoting the development and progress of related work.

The Huawei Hetu platform unites Dunhuang's study findings, high—resolution images of the site's murals and virtual, three-dimensional models with the real Mogao Grottoes. It has not only re-created the real tour of the scenic spot, but also developed a new way of digitally experiencing the grottoes. When people visit the site, they not only have the experience of seeing the real grottoes, but they can appreciate the admirable artworks more clearly and in greater detail.

In the future, Dunhuang Academy will continue to cooperate with Huawei to create more colorful virtual content to enrich the experience of Mogao Art on the platform, helping people around the world get to know Dunhuang Art better.

1. Which is NOT the advantage of the Hetu technology?

A．Decrease the cost of the visitors.	B．Reduce the time visitors spend inside the cave.
C．Help to protect the cultural relics.	D．Provide more information for tourists.

2. How long has the Dunhuang Academy used digital technology?

A．About a year.

B．90 years.

C．Nearly 30 years.

D．10 years.

3. What^‘s the author^‘s attitude towards the cooperation between Dunhuang and Huawei?

A．Doubtful.

B．Opposed.

C．Indifferent.

D．Hopeful.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Dunhuang Academy Preserves Grottoes Well	B．AI Tech Helps Tourists Enjoy Dunhuang's Art
C．Huawei Newly Released Hetu AI	D．Dunhuang Grottoes Attract Tourists

8 . On Monday, about 270 pilot whales got into difficulty on a sandbank at Macquarie Heads, near Strahan on Tasmania’s west coast, about 190 kilometres from Hobart. Another 200 of the animals were found early on Wednesday, making it Tasmania’s largest recorded stranding event. The Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) said that about a third had died.

Marine biologists arrived in the area to carry out rescue operations. They planned to use specialized equipment such as special tarpaulins to push the whales back into the deep water. The local police also assisted in the rescue.

The whales that were stranded are Pilot Whales, and they are found in almost all the oceans of the world, according to the Marine conservation group. Pilot whales are in fact one of the largest members of the dolphin family, but they are treated as whales for the Marine Mammals Protection Regulations issued in 1992.They were named pilot whales because it was thought that each pod followed a ‘pilot’ in the group.

Cetacean stranding, commonly known as beaching, is a phenomenon in which whales and dolphins strand themselves on land, usually on a beach. Several explanations for why cetaceans strand themselves have been proposed, including changes in water temperatures, unusual features of whales’ echo location in certain surroundings, and geomagnetic disturbances, but none have so far been universally accepted as a definitive reason for the behavior.

In recent years, whale strandings have become more frequent around the world. In November 2018, a dead sperm whale that had washed ashore in eastern Indonesia consumed a horrifying collection of plastic trash, including 115 drinking cups, 25 plastic bags, plastic bottles, two flip-flops and a bag containing more than 1,000 pieces of string. In all, the plastic contents of the whale’s stomach weighed 13.2 pound (six kilograms). The bags are black due to a reaction with the creature’s stomach acids, according to Thai Whales organization. A person, on average, breathes or swallows at least 74,000 microscopic particles of plastic each year.

1. How many whales died according to DPIPWE?

A．About 160.

B．About 200.

C．About 270.

D．About 470.

2. What does the underlined word “stranding” mean in Paragraph 1?

A．Being put into danger.

B．Being trapped in trouble.

C．Being found in extinction.

D．Being left or driven ashore.

3. What does the author want to tell us by the numbers in Paragraph 5?

A．Whales mistake plastics for food.

B．Whales need the ability of self-protection.

C．Whales’ living conditions are worsening.

D．Whales have an excellent digestive system.

4. What will be discussed probably following the last paragraph?

A．Protective measures for whales.

B．The reasons for whale stranding.

C．Studying whales’ stomach deeply.

D．Researching the oceans’ ecosystem.

9 . Are you sometimes a little tired and sleepy in the early afternoon? Many people feel this way after lunch. They may think that eating lunch is the cause of the sleepiness. Or, in summer, they may think it is the heat. However, the real reason lies inside their bodies. At that time — about eight hours after you wake up — your body temperature goes down. This is what makes you slow down and feel sleepy. Scientists have tested sleep habits in experiments where there was no night or day. The people in these experiments almost always followed a similar sleeping pattern. They slept for one long period and then for one short period about eight hours later.

In many parts of the world, people take naps (小憩) in the middle of the day. This is especially true in warmer climates, where the heat makes work difficult in the early afternoon. Researchers are now saying that naps are good for everyone in any climate. A daily nap gives one a more rested body and mind and therefore is good for health in general. In countries where naps are traditional, people often suffer less from problems such as heart disease. Many working people, unfortunately, have no time to take naps. Though doctors may advise taking naps, employers do not allow it! If you do have the chance, however, here are a few tips about making the most of your nap. Remember that the best time to take a nap is about eight hours after you get up. A short sleep too late in the day may only make you feel more tired and sleepy afterward. This can also happen if you sleep for too long. If you do not have enough time, try a short nap — even ten minutes of sleep can be helpful.

1. Why do you sometimes feel sleepy in the early afternoon?

A．Because you eat too much for lunch.

B．Because it’s hot in summer.

C．Because your body temperature goes down at that time.

D．Because you didn’t have a good sleep last night.

2. What can we learn about “naps” according to the last paragraph?

A．All the people in warmer climates take naps in the middle of the day.

B．Doctors need to take naps while employers don’t.

C．If you take naps every day, you’ll never suffer from heart disease.

D．Taking naps regularly is good to people’s health.

3. If you get up at 6:30 am, what is the best time for you to take a nap?

A．About 12:30 pm.	B．About 1:30 pm.
C．About 2:30 pm	D．About 3:30 pm

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．All for a Nap	B．Just for a Rest
C．A Special Sleep Pattern	D．Taking Naps in Warmer Climate

10 . Edmund Halley was an English scientist who lived over 200 years ago. Some scientists had already observed comets then, and Halley studied them carefully. The orbit (轨道) of one special comet was a very hard mathematical (数学的) problem. He couldn’t work it out. Neither could other scientists who dealt with such problems.

However, Halley had a friend named Newton, who was an excellent mathematician. Newton thought he had already worked out that problem, but he could not find the papers on which he had done it. He told Halley that the orbit of a comet had the shape of an ellipse (椭圆).

Now Halley set to work. He worked out the orbits of some of the comets that had been observed by scientists. He made a surprising discovery. The comets that had appeared in the years 1531, 1607, and 1682 all had the same orbit. Yet their appearances had been 75 to 76 years apart.

This seemed very strange to Halley. The different comets followed the same orbit. The more Halley thought about it, the more he thought that there had not been three different comets, as people thought. He decided that they had simply seen the same comet three times. The comet had gone away and had come back again.

It was an astonishing idea! Halley felt certain enough to make a prediction of what comet would happen in the future. He decided that this comet would appear in the year 1758. There were 53 years to go before Halley's prediction could be tested. In 1758 the comet appeared in the sky. Halley did not see it, for he has died some years before. Ever since then that comet has been called Halley's comet, in his honor.

1. Halley made his discovery ________.

A．by using the work of other scientists	B．through his own careful observation
C．by doing some experiments secretly	D．by figuring out some hard problems

2. Halley made an amazing, but right prediction in ________.

A．1607

B．1682

C．1705

D．1811

3. This passage in general is about ________.

A．Halley and other scientists	B．the orbit of a comet
C．Newton and Halley	D．Halley and his discovery

4. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．The orbit of a comet was a round shape.

B．Halley did not live up to the year 1758.

C．Halley was an Australian mathematician.

D．Halley worked out the comet’s orbit first.